From Newton to Einstein: Changing Conceptions of the Universe

The text surveys the evolution of physical cosmology from Newtonian mechanics to Einsteinian relativity, explaining how laws of gravitation and motion shaped scientific confidence in a lawful universe. It begins with an accessible exposition of Newton's law and the astronomical predecessors who challenged geocentric ideas. It then examines the ether concept, its implications, and the experiments and theoretical developments that undermined it, setting the stage for Einstein's reconception of time, space, and gravitation. An appendix collects popular expositions and contemporary commentaries by leading physicists, with illustrations and notes to clarify the mathematical and observational consequences.