point with reference to the system $K$ (of the man with reference to the
embankment). We denote this velocity by the symbol $W$, and we then
obtain, as in Section 6,
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
W=v+w
\label{eqnA}
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
But we can carry out this consideration just as well on the basis of
the theory of relativity. In the equation
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
x'=wt'
\label{eqnB}
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
\noindent we must then express $x'$and $t'$ in terms of $x$ and $t$, making use of the
first and fourth equations of the Lorentz transformation. Instead of
x = ct
\end{align*}
or
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a1}
x - ct = 0
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
Since the same light-signal has to be transmitted relative to $K^1$ with
the velocity $c$, the propagation relative to the system $K^1$ will be
represented by the analogous formula
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a2}
x' - ct' = 0
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
Those space-time points (events) which satisfy (\ref{eqn:a1}) must also satisfy
(\ref{eqn:a2}). Obviously this will be the case when the relation
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a3}
(x' - ct') = \lambda (x - ct)
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
\noindent is fulfilled in general, where $\lambda$ indicates a constant; for, according
to (\ref{eqn:a3}), the disappearance of $(x - ct)$ involves the disappearance of
If we apply quite similar considerations to light rays which are being
transmitted along the negative x-axis, we obtain the condition
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a4}
(x' + ct') = \mu (x + ct)
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
By adding (or subtracting) equations (\ref{eqn:a3}) and (\ref{eqn:a4}), and introducing for
convenience the constants $a$ and $b$ in place of the constants $\lambda$ and $\mu$,
\noindent we obtain the equations
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a5}
\left. \begin{array}{rcl} x' &=& ax-bct \\ ct' &=& act-bx \end{array} \right\}
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
We should thus have the solution of our problem, if the constants $a$
and $b$ were known. These result from the following discussion.
If we call $v$ the velocity with which the origin of $K^1$ is moving
relative to $K$, we then have
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a6}
v=\frac{bc}{a}
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
The same value $v$ can be obtained from equations (\ref{eqn:a5}), if we calculate
the velocity of another point of $K^1$ relative to $K$, or the velocity
when measured in the $K^1$ system are thus separated in our instantaneous
photograph by the distance
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a7}
\Delta x = \frac{I}{a}
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
\noindent But if the snapshot be taken from $K'(t' = 0)$, and if we eliminate $t$
from the equations (\ref{eqn:a5}), taking into account the expression (\ref{eqn:a6}), we
inserting the values of these constants in (\ref{eqn:a5}), we obtain the first
and the fourth of the equations given in Section 11.
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a8}
\left. \begin{array}{rcl}
x' &=& \frac{x-vt}{\sqrt{I-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} \\
~ \\
t' &=& \frac{t-\frac{v}{c^2}x}{\sqrt{I-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} \end{array} \right\}
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
Thus we have obtained the Lorentz transformation for events on the
$x$-axis. It satisfies the condition
outside the $x$-axis, is obtained by retaining equations (\ref{eqn:a8}) and
supplementing them by the relations
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a9}
\left. \begin{array}{rcl} y' &=& y \\ z' &=& z \end{array} \right\}
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
In this way we satisfy the postulate of the constancy of the velocity
of light in vacuo for rays of light of arbitrary direction, both for
\noindent or, if we square this equation, according to the equation
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a10}
x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = c^2t^2 = 0
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
It is required by the law of propagation of light, in conjunction with
the postulate of relativity, that the transmission of the signal in
In order that equation (10a) may be a consequence of equation (\ref{eqn:a10}), we
must have
-\begin{equation}
+\begin{align}
\label{eqn:a11}
{x'}^2 + {y'}^2 + {z'}^2 - c^2{t'}^2 = \sigma (x^2 + y^2 + z^2 - c^2t^2)
-\end{equation}
+\end{align}
Since equation (8a) must hold for points on the $x$-axis, we thus have $\sigma