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Michelson Morley Experiment & Null Result

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In this article we are going to discuss the Michelson Morley Experiment & the null results obtained by the experiment. We study the basis of experiment and its results. Basically this experiment is conducted in order to explain weather ether is present or not. Using his theory of electromagnetism, Maxwell firmly established that light is an electromagnetic wave and travels at a velocity of 3 × 108 m/s. It was believed that this ether represents an absolute reference frame.

Michelson Morley Experiment :

This experiment was conducted to test whether or not the ether was in fact an absolute reference frame. It attempted to measure the speed of light relative to earth.

Basis of Experiment : 

Early scientists believe that the ether was fixed relative to the sun. If this was true, then speed of light in orbit (30,000 m/s) around the sun could produce a change in the speed of light in the ether.
The medium between the Sun and the Earth was ether & it was at rest relative to the Sun.
 
Michelson-Morley-experiment

Results : 

No change in velocity of light was found & this becomes known as Null result. 
Hence it also shows that light does not require any medium to travel.
 
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Study Tips & Tricks :

 

Reference frame & Principle of relativity

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In this post, we are going to discuss reference frame and principle of relativity. The principle of relativity was given by Albert Einstein in 1915.
A reference frame is a space in which we are making observations and measuring physical quantities. There are two type of reference frames: the inertial reference frame and the noninertial reference frame.
 

Types of Reference frames :

  • Inertial Reference Frames are the frame of references in which Newton first law of motion holds i.e. an object at rest and an object in motion remains in motion unless acted by a net force. An inertial reference frame is either at rest or moves with a constant velocity.
  • A noninertial reference frame is a frame of references that is accelerating, either in a linear fashion or rotating around some axis.
Examples: Label the type of reference frames :
  1. A train moving with constant velocity. (Inertial)
  2. A rotating merry-go-round. (Non-Inertial)
  3. A turning car with constant speed (Non-Inertial)
  4. The rotating Earth (Non-Inertial)
The principle of Relativity :
The principle of relativity states the basic laws of physics are same in all inertial frame of references. This is as you go from one reference frame to another, things like forces, mass, length and time do not changes. These quantities are said to be absolute.
Since all the laws of mechanics do not change for different inertial reference frames, no one inertial reference frame is special in any sense. Therefore we conclude that :
 “All Inertial frame of references are equivalent”.

Source: A K Lectures (YouTube)

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