Translation

On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies

Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper

by A. Einstein

I. Kinematical Part.

II. Electrodynamical Part.

§ 9. Transformation of the Maxwell-Hertz Equations with Consideration of Convection Currents.

We start from the equations: 1V{uxϱ+∂X∂t}=∂N∂y−∂M∂z,1V∂L∂t=∂Y∂z−∂Z∂y,1V{uyϱ+∂Y∂t}=∂L∂z−∂N∂x,1V∂M∂t=∂Z∂x−∂X∂z,1V{uzϱ+∂Z∂t}=∂M∂x−∂L∂y,1V∂N∂t=∂X∂y−∂Y∂x,\begin{aligned} \frac{1}{V} \left\{ u_x \varrho + \frac{\partial X}{\partial t} \right\} &= \frac{\partial N}{\partial y} - \frac{\partial M}{\partial z} , &\qquad \frac{1}{V} \frac{\partial L}{\partial t} &= \frac{\partial Y}{\partial z} - \frac{\partial Z}{\partial y} , \\ \frac{1}{V} \left\{ u_y \varrho + \frac{\partial Y}{\partial t} \right\} &= \frac{\partial L}{\partial z} - \frac{\partial N}{\partial x} , &\qquad \frac{1}{V} \frac{\partial M}{\partial t} &= \frac{\partial Z}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial X}{\partial z} , \\ \frac{1}{V} \left\{ u_z \varrho + \frac{\partial Z}{\partial t} \right\} &= \frac{\partial M}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial L}{\partial y} , &\qquad \frac{1}{V} \frac{\partial N}{\partial t} &= \frac{\partial X}{\partial y} - \frac{\partial Y}{\partial x} , \end{aligned}Speed of lightCharge velocity (stationary system)Charge density, stationary systemElectric field, stationary systemTime in the stationary systemMagnetic field, stationary systemPosition in the stationary systemMagnetic field, stationary systemPosition in the stationary systemMagnetic field, stationary systemElectric field, stationary systemElectric field, stationary systemCharge velocity (stationary system)Position in the stationary systemCharge velocity (stationary system)Explain this equation where ϱ=∂X∂x+∂Y∂y+∂Z∂z\varrho = \frac{\partial X}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial Y}{\partial y} + \frac{\partial Z}{\partial z}Charge density, stationary systemElectric field, stationary systemPosition in the stationary systemElectric field, stationary systemPosition in the stationary systemElectric field, stationary systemPosition in the stationary systemExplain this equation denotes 4π4\pi times the density of electricity, and (ux,uy,uz)(u_x, u_y, u_z) the velocity vector of electricity. If we imagine the electric masses to be invariably bound to small rigid bodies (ions, electrons), these equations are the electromagnetic foundation of Lorentz’s electrodynamics and optics of moving bodies.

If these equations, which are to hold in the system KK, are transformed to the system kk with the help of the transformation equations of § 3 and § 6, we obtain the equations: 1V{uξϱ′+∂X′∂τ}=∂N′∂η−∂M′∂ζ,∂L′∂τ=∂Y′∂ζ−∂Z′∂η,1V{uηϱ′+∂Y′∂τ}=∂L′∂ζ−∂N′∂ξ,∂M′∂τ=∂Z′∂ξ−∂X′∂ζ,1V{uζϱ′+∂Z′∂τ}=∂M′∂ξ−∂L′∂η,∂N′∂τ=∂X′∂η−∂Y′∂ξ,\begin{aligned} \frac{1}{V} \left\{ u_\xi \varrho' + \frac{\partial X'}{\partial \tau} \right\} &= \frac{\partial N'}{\partial \eta} - \frac{\partial M'}{\partial \zeta} , &\qquad \frac{\partial L'}{\partial \tau} &= \frac{\partial Y'}{\partial \zeta} - \frac{\partial Z'}{\partial \eta} , \\ \frac{1}{V} \left\{ u_\eta \varrho' + \frac{\partial Y'}{\partial \tau} \right\} &= \frac{\partial L'}{\partial \zeta} - \frac{\partial N'}{\partial \xi} , &\qquad \frac{\partial M'}{\partial \tau} &= \frac{\partial Z'}{\partial \xi} - \frac{\partial X'}{\partial \zeta} , \\ \frac{1}{V} \left\{ u_\zeta \varrho' + \frac{\partial Z'}{\partial \tau} \right\} &= \frac{\partial M'}{\partial \xi} - \frac{\partial L'}{\partial \eta} , &\qquad \frac{\partial N'}{\partial \tau} &= \frac{\partial X'}{\partial \eta} - \frac{\partial Y'}{\partial \xi} , \end{aligned}Speed of lightCharge velocity (moving system)Charge density, moving systemElectric field, moving systemTime in the moving systemMagnetic field, moving systemPosition in the moving systemMagnetic field, moving systemPosition in the moving systemMagnetic field, moving systemElectric field, moving systemElectric field, moving systemCharge velocity (moving system)Position in the moving systemCharge velocity (moving system)Explain this equation where ux−v1−uxvV2=uξ,uyβ(1−uxvV2)=uη,ϱ′=∂X′∂ξ+∂Y′∂η+∂Z′∂ζ=β(1−vuxV2)ϱ.uzβ(1−uxvV2)=uζ.\begin{aligned} \frac{u_x - v}{1 - \frac{u_x v}{V^2}} &= u_\xi , \\ \frac{u_y}{\beta \left( 1 - \frac{u_x v}{V^2} \right)} &= u_\eta , &\qquad \varrho' = \frac{\partial X'}{\partial \xi} + \frac{\partial Y'}{\partial \eta} + \frac{\partial Z'}{\partial \zeta} = \beta \left( 1 - \frac{v u_x}{V^2} \right) \varrho . \\ \frac{u_z}{\beta \left( 1 - \frac{u_x v}{V^2} \right)} &= u_\zeta . \end{aligned}Charge velocity (stationary system)Speed of the moving systemSpeed of lightCharge velocity (moving system)Charge velocity (stationary system)Lorentz factorCharge velocity (moving system)Charge density, moving systemElectric field, moving systemPosition in the moving systemElectric field, moving systemPosition in the moving systemElectric field, moving systemPosition in the moving systemCharge density, stationary systemCharge velocity (stationary system)Charge velocity (moving system)Explain this equation Since — as follows from the addition theorem of velocities (§ 5) — the vector (uξ,uη,uζ)(u_\xi, u_\eta, u_\zeta) is nothing other than the velocity of the electric masses measured in the system kk, it is thereby shown that, on the basis of our kinematical principles, the electrodynamic foundation of Lorentz’s theory of the electrodynamics of moving bodies is in accordance with the principle of relativity.

It may also be briefly remarked that the following important theorem can easily be deduced from the equations developed: If an electrically charged body moves in any manner in space and its charge, regarded from a coordinate system moving with the body, does not change in the process, then its charge also remains — regarded from the “stationary” system KK — constant.

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.)