Page:Über die Konstitution des Elektrons.djvu/2

 dimensions parallel to the direction of motion shall be contracted in the ratio $$(1-\beta^{2})^{\tfrac{1}{2}}$$, the dimensions normal to the direction of motion shall remain unchanged.

By this dimension change, as shown by, any influence of absolute motion upon optical and electromagnetic phenomena will be strictly removed up to any order.

Although the equation for the dependence of the electromagnetic mass of the electron, as it was obtained by using his assumption of the deformable electron, very much differs from 's equation for the rigid electron, it was possible that my experimental results could be suited to the equations of  as well. The only difference was, that the value of $$\beta$$ for one and the same curve point was smaller by 5 to 7 percent according to, and that for the relation

$$\frac{\epsilon}{\mu_{0}}=\frac{\mathsf{Charge}}{\mathsf{Mass\ for}:\ \beta=0}$$.

a smaller value was obtained as well.

Now, since the $$\beta$$-values in my previous measurements weren't determined from the apparatus constants, but using 's formula from the method of least squares so that a connection as good as possible was obtained, it followed that a decision was impossible since the mean error of the observed curve against the calculated one was not essentially different even when applying the formula of.

The decision between the two mentioned theories and probably also other theories on the constitution of the electron, was only possible when it was achieved to calculate the two constants of the obtained curve (the number of curve constants is steadily equal to 2) in absolute measure from the dimensions of the apparatus and the strength of the deflecting magnetic or electric field, and to compare these "apparatus constants" with the "curve constants".

From the insignificance of the differences in the values for $$\beta$$ and for $$\frac{\epsilon}{\mu_{0}}$$ it was given, however, that for achieving this goal we had to execute the observations with far larger precision than before. After the (for this purpose) necessary means were given to me in the kindest manner by the Royal academy of sciences at Berlin, to which I express