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The experiment of Michelson and Morley

Experiment that ruled out ether

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 July 2023

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Abstract

Light was assumed to propagate in a medium called ether which was all pervading and stationary. Earth’s motion through ether was expected to have an effect on the velocity of light in the direction of the relative motion by the law of addition of velocities. Michelson–Morley experiment used an interferometric technique to detect this effect and got a null result, which was the first strong evidence against existence of ether and eventually had a natural explanation in special theory of relativity.

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Suggested Reading

  1. Albert A Michelson, The Relative Motion of the Earth and the Luminiferous Ether, American Journal of Science, Vol.22, pp.120–129, 1881.

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  2. Albert A Michelson, Edward W Morley, On the Relative Motion of the Earth and the Luminiferous Ether, American Journal of Science, Vol.34, pp.333–345, 1887.

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  3. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michelson Morley experiment 1887.jpg.

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  1. Flat 1A, Xenon Co-op Housing Society, J 383 Baishnabghata Patuli Township, Kolkata, 700 094, India

    Amit Roy

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  1. Amit Roy
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Correspondence to Amit Roy.

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Amit Roy spent more than two decades each at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Inter-University Accelerator Centre and then a few years at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre involved in basic research and development of technology. Currently he is dividing his time between enjoying literature, music, and science writing.

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Roy, A. The experiment of Michelson and Morley. Reson 22, 633–643 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-017-0508-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-017-0508-8

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