What is Michelson: Definition and 123 Discussions

Albert Abraham Michelson FFRS HFRSE (December 19, 1852 – May 9, 1931) was an American physicist known for his work on measuring the speed of light and especially for the Michelson–Morley experiment. In 1907 he received the Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming the first American to win the Nobel Prize in a science. He was the founder and the first head of the physics department of the University of Chicago.

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  1. J

    Michelson Interferometer question

    Homework Statement A Michelson interferometer is operated in a vacuum, using monochromatic light of wavelength 589 nm. The interferometer is set up so that the distances between the moving mirror and the beam splitter and the fixed mirror and the beam splitter are equal. A parallel-sided object...
  2. P

    What is the principle behind Michelson interferometer?

    Hello people! I got big problem. l=\frac{ct_n}{2} - the light in one way. Here are the pictures, I think you'll see what I am talking about. http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture001id5.jpg http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture002tx5.jpg...
  3. B

    Michelson Interferometer problem

    Homework Statement A Michelson interferometer operating at a 600nm wavelength has 2.00 cm glass cell in one arm. To begin, the air is pumped out of the cell and mirror M2 is adjusted to produce a bright spot ant the center of the interference pattern. Then a valve is opened and air is slowly...
  4. O

    Relative velocity and Michelson Morley experiment

    Homework Statement I was reading up on an experiment,The Michelson Morley experiment, in preparation for Physics lab. Then there was this problem. The textbook stated that the velocity of the light ray that was traveling perpendicularly to the ether wind was \root{c^2-v^2}. Shouldn't it have...
  5. H

    Michelson- Morley's experiment

    Hi everyone I'm a new member Despite I'm not graduated from college of physical science, but I'm super interested in physics. this summer I tried to study relativity theory by my self with some good references, I was very happy when I get to understand the concepts of relativity and I...
  6. B

    Calculating Micrometer Reading Change for 50 Fringes at λ = 550 nm

    Homework Statement Suppose the calibration constant of your spectrometer is 0.5, and suppose the wavelength of the light is λ = 550 nm. How much does the micrometer reading change during the movement of M2 that generates the passage of 50 fringes? Homework Equations possibly delta(l)=...
  7. B

    Null result of the michelson morley experiment

    Homework Statement Show that the null effect of the michelson morley experiment can be accounted for if the interferometer arm parallel to motion is shortened by a factor of (1-v^2/c^2)^.5 Homework Equations V(earth)=29.8 km/s , fringe in MM experiment is .4 ; gamma =sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) The...
  8. B

    No width contraction in Michelson Morley Experiment, why?

    Based on the Michelson Morley experiment, Lorentz proposed already length contraction as an explanation of the negative outcome of the experiment. a) Did he also propose time dilation? b) How is width contraction ruled out: is that a necessary conclusion of the Michelson Morley experiment or...
  9. P

    Michelson interferometer maxima

    Homework Statement A Michelson interferometer uses light from a sodium lamp. Sodium atoms emit light having wavelengths 589.0 nm and 589.6 nm. The interferometer is intially set up with both arms of equal length (L1=L2) producing a bright spot at the center of the interference pattern. How...
  10. K

    Why Does the Michelson-Morley Experiment Use T1-T2 Even After Rotation?

    Pl. guide me for the doubts that i have in MME In this experiment suppose L1 = L2 Then in this case will there be in any change in time difference T1-T2 calculated before and after rotation of the apparatus? Another query is first we find T1-T2 now if first path is parallel to ether wind...
  11. S

    Nightmarish michelson interferometer question

    We have to "closely spaced" frequencies f1 and f2. "The moving mirror moves at a constant speed v. Explain how the Doppler effect on the light reflected from the moving mirror affects the recorded signal as a function of time. Estimate the value of v required to resolve the freq. difference of...
  12. R

    Why is light traveling through the ether not just at speed c?

    I've just started reading the dustiest book on relativity i could find at the local library and like most others I've seen it includes the Michelson Morley experiment. I just need a bit of clarification on the formulae they use. The equations t1=2l/(c^2 - v^2)^1/2 and t2=2lc/c^2 - v^2...
  13. R

    Michelson experiment question/modern physics

    I don't know how to proceed on this question. It says: A shift of one fringe in the michelson-morley experiment would result from a difference of one wavelength or a change of one period of vibration in the round trip travel of light when the inferometer is rotated 90º What speed would...
  14. B

    Michelson Interferometer and white light fringes

    Hi, I conducted an experiment with the Michelson Inteferometer to obeserve white light fringes but I cannot explain the presence of a central black fringes. I understand a phase shift of pi is introduced in one of the beams but where/how does this shift occur? thanks
  15. Andrew Mason

    Michelson Morley and Paul Marmet

    Retired Canadian physicist, Paul Marmet, has published a number of 'heretical' papers that question some fundamental principles of modern (non-Newtonian) physics. see: http://www.Newtonphysics.on.ca/ I have glanced through his paper that tries to explain errors in the math used in the...
  16. M

    Why won't the bright spot in my Michelson Interferometer turn dark?

    Hi all, I've made a Michelson Interferometer with 635 HeNe, and I get nice, contrasty fringes. I have one problem - I cannot get the bright spot in the middle to turn dark! The intensity it has is like bright and brighter, but never dark. Any ideas why? The intensity of the two beams are...
  17. E

    Michelson - Morley Experiment Revisited

    okay! now I would like to discuss the problems with the Michelson - Morley Experiment [link] I believe the experiment was flawed, both technically and conceptually due to crude (19th century) methods and ill conceived assumsions for example: why should aether form an absolute reference...
  18. R

    Understanding Phase Difference, Diffraction & Michelson Interferometer

    Can anyone explain the following to me; what is phase difference and coherence? what actually is diffraction and why does it happen (is it something to do with Huygens principle?) why do you observe circular fringes when using the Michelson interferometer your help is much...
  19. P

    Michelson and Morley solved, relativity gone

    So I suppose you don't want the correct solution to the michelson and morley interferometer. You'd rather keep on talking about relativity, and such, as if you really understand it. The problem has been solved and there is no need for the likes of you to waste you time on it any longer. Einstein...
  20. M

    Setting up Michelson Interferometer

    I was setting up a Michelson Interferometer the other day & was trying to adjust it so the movable & fixed paths are indentical in length. I could not really tell when they were identical so I asked a colleague. He told me that as the path lengths become equal, the spacing between the rings in...
  21. V

    Does the Earth's movement towards the sun affect the speed of light?

    I thought the idea was that light should move faster coming towards the Earth than moving away but that it was found that the two speeds were the same; but isn't the Earth moving towards something adding to its rate just as the Earth moving away from something adds to the rate at which it is...
  22. R

    RI using Michelson Interferometer, help please

    I'm doing a college project, and part of it involves finding the refractive index of a microscope cover slip. I am using a Michelson Interferometer, but the handbook for it is really badly written and coming to pieces, so I am a bit lost. This is what I have got so far: All that may or...
  23. R

    Understanding Interference Fringes in a Michelson Interferometer

    how can you tell whether the interference fringes are moving in or out as you change the distance between the mirrors by rotating the knob clockwise or counterclockwise. say if the circular fringes are moving toward the center of the screen than in what direction the knob is being rotated. my...
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