Vladimir Varićak

“ The Lorentz-Fitzgerald hypothesis of electron contraction led me to the assumption, whether this contraction could be interpreted as a consequence of geometrical anisotropy of space. It seemed to me that this contraction is analogues to the deformation of lengths in a very familiar interpretation of Lobachevskian geometry. [3] Now it seems that my assumption of the connection of non-euclidean geometry with relativity theory can be realized. ”

“ From N we let fall the perpendicular NP upon MT, then we construct the perpendicular NR upon NP in N, then we lay off the line MS = 1 upon MT, and from S we let fall the perpendicular SR upon NR. If we additionally make NU = PS, then NU will be parallel to MT in the Lobachevskian sense, and this parallel encloses with the X-axis the angle . As point U always lies between S and R, it can be easily seen from the figure that in relativity theory is smaller than of ordinary mechanics. ”

“ Formula (1) leads to the same result at the limits of our ordinary experience. Only at velocities nearly comparable to the velocity of light, a notable difference occurs that quickly leads to infinite distortion. As unit distance we use the path of light in one second. Then
If we take v = 1 km/sec at first, then
If we neglect everything after the first term on the right-hand side, then we commit an error that not even exerts an influence upon the 10th decimal. So by our definition, we have for a velocity of 1 km/sec a length of 1 km as the representative. ”