On the speed of light in the theory of relativity - photo 1
On the speed of light in the theory of relativity - photo 2
On the speed of light in the theory of relativity - photo 3

On the speed of light in the theory of relativity

Lot 25
16.07.2020 06:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 15 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 370014
Lot 25 | On the speed of light in the theory of relativity
Estimate value
£ 20 000 – 30 000
Albert Einstein (1879-1955).

Typed letter signed ('A. Einstein') to George Aristotle Solounias, 112 Mercer Street, Princeton, 18 September 1952.

In English. Half page, 280 x 215mm, the words '(De Sitter)' added by Einstein in autograph, on paper with blind-stamped address. Envelope.

On the speed of light in the theory of relativity. Einstein refutes in three numbered points an attempt to undermine special relativity through the assertion that the speed of light is variable:

'1. Your considerations about the Michelson experiment presuppose that the classical rule of composition of velocities would hold. That rule does, however, not conform with other experimental facts.
2. Your proposition concerning interference experiments is not workable for the reason that light coming from different sources does not interfere.
3. The hypothesis of dependence of light velocity from the motion of the source is not compatible with observations on double-stars (De Sitter)'.

The Michelson-Morley experiment of 1887 was an attempt to detect the 'aether' which in 19th-century physics was postulated as the carrier of light waves: its finding that the speed of light did not depend on the direction of movement marked the death knell of aether theory. Einstein's theory of special relativity was effectively an elegant interpretation of the experiment, definitively excluding the role of aether and postulating the constancy of the speed of light. Einstein third point refers to the De Sitter double star experiment of 1913: in this, Willem de Sitter rebutted the emission theory of Walther Ritz, which postulated a variable speed of light, by showing that it would predict that some stars in double-star systems should present out-of-sequence images which would appear to violate Kepler's laws of motion. The recipient, G.A. Solounias (1901-1980), was a Greek amateur astronomer. Einstein letters in English with scientific content are rare. They are typically the product of Einstein's old age, and reflect his remarkable willingness to send personal responses to letters and questions from the general public.



Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
24.06.2020 – 16.07.2020
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>