Pagina 67 van 212

To what extent is the special theory of relativity supported by

experience? This question is not easily answered for the reason

already mentioned in connection with the fundamental experiment

of Fizeau. The special theory of relativity has crystallised out

from the Maxwell-Lorentz theory of electromagnetic phenomena.

Thus all facts of experience which support the electromagnetic

theory also support the theory of relativity. As being of

particular importance, I mention here the fact that the theory of

relativity enables us to predict the effects produced on the

light reaching us from the fixed stars. These results are

obtained in an exceedingly simple manner, and the effects

indicated, which are due to the relative motion of the earth with

reference to those fixed stars are found to be in accord with

experience.