§ 8. The Fundamental Equations.

We are now in a position to establish in a unique way the fundamental equations for bodies moving in any manner by means of these three axioms exclusively.

The first Axion shall be,—

When a detached region [^[19]] of matter is at rest at any moment, therefore the vector u is zero, for a system (x, y, z, t)—the neighbourhood may be supposed to be in motion in any possible manner, then for the space-time point x, y, z, t, the same relations (A) (B) (V) which hold in the case when all matter is at rest, shall also hold between ρ, the vectors C, e, m, M, E and their differentials with respect to x, y, z, t. The second axiom shall be:—

Every velocity of matter is < 1, smaller than the velocity of propagation of light.[^[20]]

The fundamental equations are of such a kind that when (x, y, z, it) are subjected to a Lorentz transformation and thereby (m - ie) and (M - iE) are transformed into space-time vectors of the second kind, (C, iρ) as a space-time vector of the 1st kind, the equations are transformed into essentially identical forms involving the transformed magnitudes.

Shortly I can signify the third axiom as:—

(m, -ie), and (M, -iE) are space-time vectors of the second kind, (C, ip) is a space-time vector of the first kind.

This axiom I call the Principle of Relativity.

In fact these three axioms lead us from the previously mentioned fundamental equations for bodies at rest to the equations for moving bodies in an unambiguous way.

According to the second axiom, the magnitude of the velocity vector | u | is < 1 at any space-time point. In consequence, we can always write, instead of the vector u, the following set of four allied quantities

ω₁ = u_x/√(1 - u²),

ω₂ = u_y/√(1 - u²),

ω₃ = u_z/√(1 - u²),

ω₄ = i/√(1 - u²)

with the relation

(27) ω₁² + ω₂² + ω₃² + ω₄² = - |

From what has been said at the end of [§ 4], it is clear that in the case of a Lorentz-transformation, this set behaves like a space-time vector of the 1st kind.

Let us now fix our attention on a certain point (x, y, z) of matter at a certain time (t). If at this space-time point u = 0, then we have at once for this point the equations (A), (B) (V) of [§ 7]. If u ≠ 0, then there exists according to 16), in case | u | < 1, a special Lorentz-transformation, whose vector v is equal to this vector u (x, y, z, t), and we pass on to a new system of reference (x′ y′ z′ t′) in accordance with this transformation. Therefore for the space-time point considered, there arises as in [§ 4], the new values 28) ω′₁ = 0, ω′₂ = 0, ω′₃ = 0, ω′₄ = i, therefore the new velocity vector ω′ = 0, the space-time point is as if transformed to rest. Now according to the third axiom the system of equations for the transformed point (x′ y′ z′ t) involves the newly introduced magnitude (u′ ρ′, C′, e′, m′, E′, M′) and their differential quotients with respect to (x′, y′, z′, t′) in the same manner as the original equations for the point (x, y, z, t). But according to the first axiom, when u′ = 0, these equations must be exactly equivalent to

(1) the differential equations (A′), (B′), which are obtained from the equations (A), (B) by simply dashing the symbols in (A) and (B).

(2) and the equations

(V′) e′ = εE′, M’ = μm′, C′ = σE′

where ε, μ, σ are the dielectric constant, magnetic permeability, and conductivity for the system (x′ y′ z′ t′) i.e. in the space-time point (x y, z t) of matter.

Now let us return, by means of the reciprocal Lorentz-transformation to the original variables (x, y, z, t), and the magnitudes (u, ρ, C, e, m, E, M) and the equations, which we then obtain from the last mentioned, will be the fundamental equations sought by us for the moving bodies.

Now from [§ 4], and [§ 6], it is to be seen that the equations A), as well as the equations B) are covariant for a Lorentz-transformation, i.e. the equations, which we obtain backwards from A′) B′), must be exactly of the same form as the equations A) and B), as we take them for bodies at rest. We have therefore as the first result:—

The differential equations expressing the fundamental equations of electrodynamics for moving bodies, when written in ρ and the vectors C, e, m, E, M, are exactly of the same form as the equations for moving bodies. The velocity of matter does not enter in these equations. In the vectorial way of writing, we have

I) curl m - ∂e/∂t = C₁,

II) div e = ρ

III) curl E + ∂M/∂t = 0

IV) div M = 0

The velocity of matter occurs only in the auxiliary equations which characterise the influence of matter on the basis of their characteristic constants ε, μ, σ. Let us now transform these auxiliary equations V′) into the original co-ordinates (x, y, z, and t.)

According to formula 15) in [§ 4], the component of e′ in the direction of the vector u is the same as that of (e + [u m]), the component of m′ is the same as that of m - [u e], but for the perpendicular direction ū, the components of e′, m′ are the same as those of (e + [u m]) and (m - [u e], multiplied by 1/√(1 - u²). On the other hand E′ and M′ shall stand to E + [uM], and M - [uE] in the same relation as e′ and m′ to e + [um], and m - (ue). From the relation e′ = εE′, the following equations follow

and from the relation M′ = μm′, we have

(D) M - [u E] = μ(m - [ue]),

For the components in the directions perpendicular to u, and to each other, the equations are to be multiplied by √(1 - u²).

Then the following equations follow from the transformation? equations (12), (10), (11) in [§ 4], when we replace q, r_v, r_ṽ, t, r′_v, r′_ṽ, t’ by |u|, C_u, C_ū, ρ, C′_u, C′_ū, ρ′

ρ′ = (-|u| C_u + ρ)/√(1 - u²),

C’_u = (C_u - |u|ρ)/√(1 - u²),

C′_ū = C_ū,

E) (C_u - |u|ρ)/√(1 - u²) = σ(E + [uM])_u,

C_ū = σ (E + [uM])_u/√(1 - u²).

In consideration of the manner in which σ enters into these relations, it will be convenient to call the vector C - ρu with the components C_u - ρ|u| in the direction of u, and C′_ū in the directions ū perpendicular to u the “Convection current.” This last vanishes for σ = 0.

We remark that for ε = 1, μ = 1 the equations e′ = E′, m′ = M′ immediately lead to the equations e = E, m = M by means of a reciprocal Lorentz-transformation with -u as vector; and for σ = 0, the equation C′ = 0 leads to C = ρu; that the fundamental equations of Äther discussed in [§ 2] becomes in fact the limitting case of the equations obtained here with ε = 1, μ = 1, σ = 0.