Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the source of light used in the Michelson-Morley experiment, particularly focusing on whether sunlight could be used and the specific type of light employed by Michelson. Participants explore historical context and technical details related to the experiment.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant inquires about the specific source of light used by Michelson and whether sunlight could be a viable option, referencing Young's earlier work with sunlight in double-slit experiments.
- Another participant provides a link to a historical resource about Michelson, but does not address the question directly.
- Some participants assert that Michelson was not measuring the speed of light but rather the effects of ether drift, with references to specific pages in Michelson's work.
- There is a suggestion that Michelson used yellow light in his calculations, but the exact source remains unspecified, leading to speculation about the use of sodium light.
- One participant proposes that salt crystals might have been burned in the lamp to produce the sodium light, which is known to emit a bright yellow light from the Sodium D lines.
- Another participant mentions that Michelson may have returned to using white light for measurements, suggesting a temporary use of sodium light.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the nature of Michelson's measurements and the source of light used in the experiment. There is no consensus on the specific source of light or the implications of Michelson's findings regarding ether drift.
Contextual Notes
There are unresolved questions regarding the assumptions made about the light source and the historical context of Michelson's work, as well as the implications of using different types of light for the experiment.