Page:The principle of relativity (1920).djvu/76

 differential equations for the propagation of waves with the velocity of light.

Now without recognizing any hypothesis about the connection between "Äther" and matter, we can expect these mathematically evident theorems to have their consequences so far extended—that thereby even those laws of ponderable media which are yet unknown may anyhow possess this covariance when subjected to a Lorentz-transformation; by saying this, we do not indeed express an opinion, but rather a conviction,—and this conviction I may be permitted to call the Postulate of Relativity. The position of affairs here is almost the same as when the Principle of Conservation of Energy was poslutated in cases, where the corresponding forms of energy were unknown.

Now if hereafter, we succeed in maintaining this covariance as a definite connection between pure and simple observable phenomena in moving bodies, the definite connection may be styled 'the Principle of Relativity.'

These differentiations seem to me to be necessary for enabling us to characterise the present day position of the electro-dynamics for moving bodies.

H. A. Lorentz has found out the "Relativity theorem" and has created the Relativity-postulate as a hypothesis that electrons and matter suffer contractions in consequence of their motion according to a certain law.

A. Einstein has brought out the point very clearly, that this postulate is not an artificial hypothesis but is rather a new way of comprehending the time-concept which is forced upon us by observation of natural phenomena.

The Principle of Relativity has not yet been formulated for electro-dynamics of moving bodies in the sense