Re: michelson morley experiment


darkknight wrote:
On 11 Apr 2006 10:10:04 -0700, "rotchm@xxxxxxxxx" <rotchm@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

In the MM experiment, was the length of the two light paths set
exactly equal.

They originally set it up that way. Of course, one can not have
*exactly* same lengths but within error bars was the same length. Then
other similar setups were done with different arm lengths. See
Kennedy-Thorndyke.

If not, did the experiment
"rely" on the fact that there was no change in the interference
fringes when the apparatus was rotated?

It did not *rely* on that fact. I was setup to find what would happen
if rotated.

Did the MM experiment demonstrate anything about the constancy of the
speed of light or did it merely "disprove" the aether theory?

It (as was already known) showed that the TWLS was constant.
It did not disprove (modern) ehter theory because ether theory predicts
that there would be no fringe shift. But the 'earlier' ether theory was
badly interpreted and was thought that it it predicted a fringe shift.



So if I calculate the phase relationship between the two swimmers that
are described here
http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/michelson.html
will I find any change if I "rotate the apparatus" i.e. if the
direction of the current in the river is changed?


If I change the direction of the current in the river, the two
swimmers won't make it back to the original starting point unless I
also change the direction they swim, but if I change the direction
they swim, this is no longer the equivalent of the MM experiment, so
the fact that the two swimmers make it back to the starting point at
different times when the river is flowing parallel to the river bank,
proves nothing ??


Since the MM apparatus doesn't change the direction the "swimmers"
swim in, won't this produce a fringe shift as the apparatus is
rotated, according to the ether theory being tested?


Thanks

Do you think you need to aim a flashlight up stream to hit a target
perpendicular to your direction of motion? Light doesn't work that
way, so your analogy is flawed.

Take a friend and a couple of megaphones out to a field on a windy day.
Use your megaphone to shout to your friend while he uses his to
determine the direction the sound comes from. You will find that he
does not hear the sound come from up wind or down wind but straight
from you. You will find it is best to aim straight at him, not up wind
or down wind. So sound, which is carried by a medium, does not behave
the way you predict either.

It's not so easy to disprove the aether when you use what really
happens as opposed to poor analogies.

Bruce Richmond

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: michelson morley experiment
    ... It did not disprove ehter theory because ether theory predicts ... If I change the direction of the current in the river, ... swimmers won't make it back to the original starting point unless I ... so your analogy is flawed. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: michelson morley experiment
    ... aether stayin still, there should be a difference of, at least, thousands of ... It did not disprove ehter theory because ether theory predicts ... If I change the direction of the current in the river, ... swimmers won't make it back to the original starting point unless I ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: michelson morley experiment
    ... It did not disprove ehter theory because ether theory predicts ... will I find any change if I "rotate the apparatus" i.e. if the ... If I change the direction of the current in the river, ... swimmers won't make it back to the original starting point unless I ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: michelson morley experiment
    ... If I change the direction of the current in the river, ... swimmers won't make it back to the original starting point unless I ... so your analogy is flawed. ... does not hear the sound come from up wind or down wind but straight ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
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