On the Electrodynamics of Moving Systems.
By Prof. Emil Cohn.
in Straßburg i. E.
Submitted by Mr. Warburg.
Caused by a series of experimental investigations of recent years – all have shown the independence of the observed phenomena from Earth's motion – H.A. Lorentz has recently modified the foundations of the theory of electron by new hypotheses. In the following, I intend to show that by these modifications, the electrodynamic equations of H.A. Lorentz for extended bodies are in agreement with the equations which were stated by me some years ago.
§ 1. A comparison of my approach with that of H.A. Lorentz was not completely possible yet. This is caused by the fact, that both "theories" are of different kind throughout. My theory represents, by a few equations, the influence of visible motions on the electromagnetic processes in gross matter. In this field, it is directly comparable with experience. It only gives instructions for a molecular theory still to be developed; it shall be developed in a way, by which exactly those equations occur for the measurable averages.
Lorentz directly gives a rule for the electromagnetic actions, which are exerted and suffered by supposed particles of the smallest kind. From them, equations must be developed for those magnitudes "which are related to the state of visible parts of the body, and therefore are accessible to observation". Developed up to this point, the theory can be found in the Proceedings of the Amsterdam Academy of 1902.[1] The equations read:
- ↑ Lorentz, Amsterdam Proceedings, 27. September 1902, p. 254. The citation above stems from the introduction. The same equations are in Mathematische Encyklopädie V, 2, p. 209.
