Question on the original Michelson-Morley Experiment

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In summary, the first Michelson interferometer was constructed in 1881 and required a coherent source of light. This was before the invention of the laser, so it is speculated that Albert Michelson used collimation of light through a sequence of slits. It was also possible to use sunlight for this experiment, as long as the two beams of light were emitted by the same force. Michelson also used a rotating mirror to create pulses for his experiment.
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arunma
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Maybe this has more to do with the history of physics than physics itself. As you all know, the first Michelson interferometer was constructed in 1881. To my knowledge, the experiment requires a coherent source of light. Just wondering, if the experimental apparatus was constructed before the invention of the laser, then how did Albert Michelson produce coherent light?
 
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I'm guessing it was collimated through a sequence of slits.
 
  • #3
as long as both beams of light are emitted by the same force, they can be considered coherent.

consider a sun ray, if you break up a sun beam into 2 parts, the two parts are going to be approximately (the difference being very small) identical, and as such can be used to construct interference patterns.

perform a double slit experiment on sunlight to see the effect.
 
  • #4
He used a rotating mirror to create pulses.
 
  • #5
A.A. Michelson and E.W. Morley, On the Relative Motion of the Earth and the Luminiferous. Aether
http://www.aip.org/history/gap/PDF/michelson.pdf
 

1. What is the Michelson-Morley Experiment?

The Michelson-Morley Experiment was a scientific experiment conducted in 1887 by Albert A. Michelson and Edward W. Morley to measure the speed of light relative to the hypothetical "luminiferous ether" that was thought to fill all space.

2. What were the results of the Michelson-Morley Experiment?

The results of the Michelson-Morley Experiment showed that the speed of light was constant and independent of the direction of motion, contradicting the prevailing theory of the "luminiferous ether". This was a major breakthrough in the understanding of the nature of light and the fundamental principles of physics.

3. Why is the Michelson-Morley Experiment important?

The Michelson-Morley Experiment is important because it provided evidence for the theory of special relativity, which revolutionized our understanding of space and time. It also laid the foundation for further experiments and theories in the field of physics.

4. What were the implications of the Michelson-Morley Experiment?

The implications of the Michelson-Morley Experiment were significant. It showed that the concept of a stationary "ether" was not necessary to explain the behavior of light, and that the laws of physics were the same for all observers regardless of their relative motion. This led to the development of the theory of special relativity by Albert Einstein.

5. Has the Michelson-Morley Experiment been replicated?

Yes, the Michelson-Morley Experiment has been replicated numerous times by scientists all over the world, with consistent results. This further confirms the validity of the original experiment and its impact on our understanding of the fundamental laws of physics.

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