How Does Special Relativity Explain the Michelson-Morley Experiment Results?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the Michelson-Morley experiment and how Einstein's theory of special relativity explains its results. The experiment aimed to measure the presence of the luminous aether by observing the speed of light in different directions, but no measurable difference was found. Einstein's postulate that the speed of light is constant for all observers leads to his theory of relativity and its implications for time, length, and apparent mass.
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ultimateroxas
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How does Einstein’s theory of special Relativity explain the result of the Michelson-Morley experiment?

Thankyou if you can help
 
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the Michelson-Morley experiment set out to measure the presence of the hypothetical luminous aether by measuring the difference in the speed of light of two paths of a split beam of light that are at right angles to each other. assuming the Earth must be traveling through the aether at some time during the year as it revolves around the Sun, this difference of speed should be measurable with their apparatus.

the performed the experiment many times, at different times of day and different seasons of the year and never got a positive result (that is a measurable difference of the speed of light in those two directions).

Einstein simply said "hell, yes. why not? there was no measured difference in the speed of light because there was no difference in the speed of light to measure." that the speed of light (which is really the speed of any instantaneous interaction, E&M, gravity, strong force, whatever) in a vacuum is constant and the same for any (inertial) observer anywhere in any direction is a postulate of SR. from that postulate Einstein notices that all sorts of strange things happen regarding time, length, apparent mass, especially if one observer is whizzing by another at a speed approaching c.
 
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thanks

thankyou so much you helped me alot. thank again
 

Related to How Does Special Relativity Explain the Michelson-Morley Experiment Results?

1. Who was Albert Einstein?

Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century. He is best known for his theory of relativity and the famous equation E=mc².

2. What is the Michelson-Morley experiment?

The Michelson-Morley experiment was a scientific experiment conducted in 1887 by Albert Michelson and Edward Morley to detect the existence of the luminiferous ether, a hypothetical medium thought to carry light waves through space. The experiment failed to detect the ether, which ultimately led to the development of Einstein's theory of relativity.

3. How did Einstein's theory of relativity challenge traditional Newtonian physics?

Einstein's theory of relativity challenged the traditional Newtonian physics by proposing that the laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion and that the speed of light is constant in all inertial frames of reference. This contradicted Newton's laws of motion and universal law of gravitation.

4. What is the significance of Einstein's theory of relativity?

Einstein's theory of relativity revolutionized the way we understand space, time, and gravity. It has been confirmed through numerous experiments and is the basis for many modern technologies, such as GPS systems. It also led to the famous equation E=mc², which explains the relationship between mass and energy.

5. What impact did the Michelson-Morley experiment have on the development of modern physics?

The Michelson-Morley experiment played a crucial role in the development of modern physics by providing evidence that the speed of light is constant and does not depend on the observer's motion. This led to the development of Einstein's theory of relativity, which has since been the foundation of many scientific breakthroughs and advancements.

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