THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ELECTRODYNAMICAL EQUATIONS
By H. BATEMAN.
[Received March 7th, 1909. — Read March 11th, 1909. — Received, in revised form, July 22nd, 1909.]
1. Introduction.
The numerous experimental and theoretical investigations that have followed Bradley's discovery of aberration have led finally to the enunciation of a principle of relativity. This principle which is being widely used as a working hypothesis is gradually attaining a position analogous to that held by the second law of thermodynamics,[1] inasmuch as it gives a satisfactory account of the experimental results and is not in direct contradiction with any known facts.[2]
The mathematical analysis on which the principle is based was introduced by Lorentz in 1892. It consists of a certain space time transformation of the coordinates in which the fundamental equations of the electrodynamical field are unaltered in form.
The principal features of the transformation are the introduction of a local time, and the hypothesis that a body moving through the aether with a constant velocity v suffers a contraction in the direction of motion: c being the velocity of light. With the help of this hypothesis
- ↑ Cf. H. A. Bumstead, Amer. Jour, of Science, Vol. xxvi (1908).
- ↑ The principle has received additional support from some recent experiments made by Dr. Bucherer, Phys. Zeitschr., Sept., 1908, p. 755.
