Re: Michelson-Morley experiment

From: Old Man (nomail_at_nomail.net)
Date: 12/31/04 

Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 13:56:23 -0600

"hasuinterceptor" <pua44@o2-dot-pl.no-spam.invalid> wrote in message
news:41d54604$1_1@Usenet.com...
> Hi guys!
>
> This is my visit to this here forum. I'm googled it out because I have
> a question (or, as some might say it, a series of 'hidden' questions)
> regarding the Michelson-Morley experiment.
>
> Here are two links to the experiment just in case:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelson-Morley_experiment
> http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/Michelson-MorleyExperiment.html
>
> This experiment was meant to prove the existance of ether (and it
> failed, of course). Now, people are telling me that this experiment
> also proves that the speed of life is stable and is not dependant on
> the speed or state of the observer (A. Einstein's theory).
>
> Can anyone possibly explain to me how is that? I've went through this
> experiment in my mind for very long, but was unable to reach a
> rational conclusion as to this matter.
>
> I would appretiate any help.
>
> Best regards,
> -Mark Nazzal

There are no proofs in physics. Within experimental
error, the results of the Michelson-Morley experiment are
consistent with the quantitative predictions of Special
Relativity.

Special Relativity predicts that the observed speed of
light is independent of the relative velocity between
source and observer. In SR, it is meaningless to speak
of the absolute speed of the source or that of the receiver.

In the Michelson-Morley experiment, the relative velocity
between source and receiver was zero. The experiment
demonstrated that the observed speed of light was
independent of the instrument's motion through space.
This is in complete accord with the predictions of SR.

[Old Man]

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