Experiments to Measure Speed of Light

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around experiments aimed at measuring the speed of light, particularly those conducted with moving bodies relative to an observer. Participants express interest in various experimental approaches and the implications of relative motion on these measurements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants request information on all experiments that measure the speed of light, specifically those involving moving bodies relative to an observer.
  • One participant references the "FAQ: Experimental Basis of Special Relativity" to highlight tests of light speed from moving sources.
  • Another participant suggests that all experiments conducted on Earth can be viewed as measurements from a moving body relative to an observer on Alpha Centauri.
  • There is a discussion about how to obtain results from Alpha Centauri, with one participant proposing that experiments could be performed on Earth while treating Alpha Centauri as stationary.
  • It is noted that while there are not many experiments specifically designed for moving source and observer, many existing experiments assume the constancy of the speed of light and support this assumption indirectly.
  • A participant mentions the GPS system as an ongoing experiment that exemplifies this indirect support for the constancy of light speed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying degrees of interest in the specifics of experiments measuring light speed, with some agreeing on the relevance of existing experiments while others seek more targeted information. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to measuring light speed in moving reference frames.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of measuring light speed in different reference frames and the assumptions involved in existing experiments. There is an acknowledgment of the limitations in directly testing the constancy of light speed with moving sources and observers.

Sandeep T S
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Any one please tell,all experiment attempt to find speed of light
 
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Sandeep T S said:
Any one please tell,all experiment attempt to find speed of light
I want those experiment, experiment done in a moving body relative to observer
 
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Sandeep T S said:
I want those experiment, experiment done in a moving body relative to observer

Besides, you DO know that you are a "moving body" relative to an observer on Alpha Centauri, don't you? So all the experiments done here on Earth can also be considered as measurement done by "a moving body".

So what's the problem?

Zz.
 
Sandeep T S said:
I want those experiment, experiment done in a moving body relative to observer
I highly recommend the article provided by @jtbell above
 
ZapperZ said:
Besides, you DO know that you are a "moving body" relative to an observer on Alpha Centauri, don't you? So all the experiments done here on Earth can also be considered as measurement done by "a moving body".

So what's the problem?

Zz.
But how can get result of one in alpha centaurie
 
Sandeep T S said:
But how can get result of one in alpha centauri
By performing the experiment on/near Earth while declaring Alpha Centuari to be stationary. Then you can see if that assumption changes the result of the experiment.

That's not exactly the same issue you asked about in your second post though. You asked for source and observer to be moving with respect to each other. There aren't a lot of experiments where that is done specifically, because it isn't really as helpful as you might think. But there are lots of experiments with source and observer moving with respect to each other where the constancy of the speed of light is assumed and used rather than tested directly. These experiments would fail if the assumption was false, so by succeeding they support the assumption indirectly. My favorite ongoing experiment for this is the GPS system.
 

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