XIII

Theorem of the Addition of Velocities. The Experiment of Fizeau

Now in practice we can move clocks and measuring-rods only with velocities that are small compared with the velocity of light; hence we shall hardly be able to compare the results of the previous section directly with the reality. But, on the other hand, these results must strike you as being very singular, and for that reason I shall now draw another conclusion from the theory, one which can easily be derived from the foregoing considerations, and which has been most elegantly confirmed by experiment.

In [chapter:VI]Section VI we derived the theorem of the addition of velocities in one direction in the form which also results from the hypotheses of classical mechanics. This theorem can also be deduced readily from the Galilei

transformation ([chapter:XI]Section XI). In place of the man walking inside the carriage, we introduce a point moving relatively to the co-ordinate system $K^{\prime }$ in accordance with the equation $x^{\prime }=w{t}^{\prime }.$ By means of the first and fourth equations of the Galilei transformation we can express $x^{\prime }$ and $t^{\prime }$ in terms of $x$ and $t$, and we then obtain $x=(v+w)t.$

This equation expresses nothing else than the law of motion of the 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 [chapter:VI]Section VI, $W=v+w.(A)$

But we can carry out this consideration just as well on the basis of the theory of relativity. In the equation $x^{\prime }=w{t}^{\prime }$ we must then express $x^{\prime }$ and $t^{\prime }$ in terms of $x$ and $t$, making use of the first and fourth equations of the Lorentz

transformation. Instead of the equation eqn:(A) we then obtain the equation $W=\frac{v+w}{1+{\displaystyle \frac{vw}{c^2}}},(B)$ which corresponds to the theorem of addition for velocities in one direction according to the theory of relativity. The question now arises as to which of these two theorems is the better in accord with experience. On this point we are enlightened by a most important experiment which the brilliant physicist Fizeau performed more

than half a century ago, and which has been repeated since then by some of the best experimental physicists, so that there can be no doubt about its result. The experiment is concerned with the following question. Light travels in a motionless liquid with a particular velocity $w$. How quickly does it travel in the direction of the arrow in the tube $T$ (see the accompanying diagram, [fig:3]Fig. 3) when the liquid above mentioned is flowing through the tube with a velocity $v$?

In accordance with the principle of relativity we shall

certainly have to take for granted that the propagation of light always takes place with the same velocity $w$ with respect to the liquid, whether the latter is in motion with reference to other bodies or not. The velocity of light relative to the liquid and the velocity of the latter relative to the tube are thus known, and we require the velocity of light relative to the tube.