Translation
On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies
Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper
I. Kinematical Part.
II. Electrodynamical Part.
§ 7. Theory of Doppler’s Principle and of Aberration.
In the system , very far from the coordinate origin, let there be a source of electrodynamic waves which, in a part of space containing the coordinate origin, may be represented to a sufficient approximation by the equations: Electric field, stationary systemElectric field amplitude (stationary system)Wave phaseMagnetic field, stationary systemMagnetic field amplitude (stationary system)Electric field, stationary systemElectric field amplitude (stationary system)Magnetic field, stationary systemMagnetic field amplitude (stationary system)Wave angular frequency (stationary system)Time in the stationary systemDirection cosine (stationary system)Position in the stationary systemDirection cosine (stationary system)Position in the stationary systemDirection cosine (stationary system)Position in the stationary systemSpeed of lightElectric field, stationary systemElectric field amplitude (stationary system)Magnetic field, stationary systemMagnetic field amplitude (stationary system)Explain this equation Here and are the vectors that determine the amplitude of the wave train, and , , the direction cosines of the wave normal.
We ask about the nature of these waves when they are examined by an observer at rest in the moving system . — By applying the transformation equations for the electric and magnetic forces found in § 6, and the transformation equations for the coordinates and the time found in § 3, we obtain directly: Electric field, moving systemElectric field amplitude (stationary system)Wave phaseMagnetic field, moving systemMagnetic field amplitude (stationary system)Electric field, moving systemLorentz factorElectric field amplitude (stationary system)Speed of the moving systemSpeed of lightMagnetic field amplitude (stationary system)Magnetic field, moving systemMagnetic field amplitude (stationary system)Electric field amplitude (stationary system)Electric field, moving systemMagnetic field, moving systemWave angular frequency (moving system)Time in the moving systemDirection cosine (moving system)Position in the moving systemDirection cosine (moving system)Position in the moving systemDirection cosine (moving system)Position in the moving systemExplain this equation where Wave angular frequency (moving system)Wave angular frequency (stationary system)Lorentz factorDirection cosine (stationary system)Speed of the moving systemSpeed of lightExplain this equation Direction cosine (moving system)Direction cosine (stationary system)Speed of the moving systemSpeed of lightExplain this equation Direction cosine (moving system)Direction cosine (stationary system)Lorentz factorDirection cosine (stationary system)Speed of the moving systemSpeed of lightExplain this equation Direction cosine (moving system)Direction cosine (stationary system)Lorentz factorDirection cosine (stationary system)Speed of the moving systemSpeed of lightExplain this equation have been set.
From the equation for it follows: If an observer moves with the velocity relative to an infinitely distant light source of frequency in such a way that the line joining “light source–observer” makes the angle with the velocity of the observer, referred to a coordinate system at rest relative to the light source, then the frequency of the light perceived by the observer is given by the equation: Frequency, moving systemFrequency, stationary systemAngle to the motion, stationary systemSpeed of the moving systemSpeed of lightExplain this equation This is Doppler’s principle for arbitrary velocities. For the equation takes the perspicuous form: Frequency, moving systemFrequency, stationary systemSpeed of the moving systemSpeed of lightExplain this equation One sees that — contrary to the usual view — for , .
If we call the angle between the wave normal (direction of the ray) in the moving system and the line joining “light source–observer”, the equation for takes the form: Angle to the motion, moving systemAngle to the motion, stationary systemSpeed of the moving systemSpeed of lightExplain this equation This equation expresses the law of aberration in its most general form. If , the equation takes the simple form: Angle to the motion, moving systemSpeed of the moving systemSpeed of lightExplain this equation
We still have to find the amplitude of the waves as it appears in the moving system. If or denotes the amplitude of the electric or magnetic force measured in the stationary or the moving system respectively, we obtain: Light amplitude (moving system)Light amplitude (stationary system)Speed of the moving systemSpeed of lightAngle to the motion, stationary systemExplain this equation an equation which for passes over into the simpler one: Light amplitude (moving system)Light amplitude (stationary system)Speed of the moving systemSpeed of lightExplain this equation
It follows from the equations developed that, for an observer approaching a light source with the velocity , this light source would have to appear infinitely intense.
In conclusion I remark that in working on the problem treated here my friend and colleague M. Besso stood loyally by my side, and that I owe him several valuable suggestions.
Bern, June 1905.
(Received 30 June 1905.)