Michelson-Morley Experiment and Einstein's Theory of Relativity | Quizzes Physics

RQ25 Please enter your name:

1. Keith Graham

2. Jeff Costello

3. Colby Rikcer

4. Laura Bender

5. Richard Petroni

6. R. Jeff Bloch

7. Tom Cassidy

8. Drew Calvert

9. Chris Barker

10. Megan Fulop

11. Patrick Feng

12. Megan Evanoka

13. Dan Speir

14. Tim Hinkle

15. Rachael Garrison

What did the Michelson-Morley experiment TRY to do, and what did it ACTUALLY show?

1. It tried to measure the earth's speed through ether. It did this by sending electromagnetic waves away from earth

and measuring their speeds. The waves all had the same speeds, which would indicate the earth was at rest in

the ether. This didn't make sense because the earth is constantly moving. It actually showed that ether doesn't

exist and that electromagnetic waves can travel through space.

2. This experiment tried to find a state of absolute rest for eletromagnetic phenomena by measuring the speed of

the earth through the ether. By measuring the speed of electromagnetic waves and finding that they are all the

same the ended up determining that the ether doesnt exist, electromeagnetic waves don't need a medium to

travel through, and we can't determine one's speed through a vacuum.

3. The experiment tried to measure the speed of earth through the use of relative velocity. It ended up indicating

that there was no "ether" and that electromagnetic waves moved through vacum

4. The experiment tried to find a state of absolute rest for electromagnetic phenomena- tried to find the earth's

speed through the ether (the medium for movement through space). It actually showed that it was impossible to

measure the speed of the earth through the ether because the ether did not exist (Einstein figured that out)

5. It tried to show a state of rest for electromagnetic phemonena. it actutally showed that the ethra substance that

they were looking fo di not exists and that in a vacum speeds can not be measured.

6. The Michelson-Morley experiment tried to discover the velocity of the earth by comparing the speed of light in

two different directions; parallel and perpendicular to the earth's motion around the sun. Unfortunately, it was

discovered that there was no difference in these speeds. As a result, Einstein proposed that the speed of light is

a universal constant.

7. The Michelson-Morley experiment was designed to find a state of absolute rest for electromagnetic reactions.

Their experiment proved that all waves need a substance to propagate through. The experiment discovered the

medium through which waves travel.

8. It tried to calculate the speed of the earth, moving through the supposed medium which was called the ether.

Using the analogy of other waves, they presumed that light would act the same way. However, it was proven

that the earth does not mover through this ether because the ether doesnt exist. Light may travel through a

vacuum.

9. It tried to show that one could determine the speed of the earth by the variations in the speed of electromagnetic

waves in the "ether". It showed that there were no variations in the electromagnetic waves, and therefore led

towards proving that the "ether" did not exist.

10. This experiment tried to find a state of absolute rest for electromagnetic phenomena. It actually showed that

electromagnetic waves require a medium and in turn, we found that we cannot determine our speed because it

is impossible to determine one's speed through a vaccuum.

11. It tried to test for the existence of "ether" ie space time median. It actually showed that there was no evidence for

such a existence.

12. It tried to determine the speed of the earth through the ether by measuring the relative speed of the

electromagnetic waves traveling in different directions. What they ended up actually proving.. which Einstein

later discovered.. was that there is in fact NO ETHER, it does not exist.

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RQ25 Please enter your name:

Keith Graham
Jeff Costello
Colby Rikcer
Laura Bender
Richard Petroni
R. Jeff Bloch
Tom Cassidy
Drew Calvert
Chris Barker
Megan Fulop
Patrick Feng
Megan Evanoka
Dan Speir
Tim Hinkle
Rachael Garrison What did the Michelson-Morley experiment TRY to do, and what did it ACTUALLY show?
It tried to measure the earth's speed through ether. It did this by sending electromagnetic waves away from earth and measuring their speeds. The waves all had the same speeds, which would indicate the earth was at rest in the ether. This didn't make sense because the earth is constantly moving. It actually showed that ether doesn't exist and that electromagnetic waves can travel through space.
This experiment tried to find a state of absolute rest for eletromagnetic phenomena by measuring the speed of the earth through the ether. By measuring the speed of electromagnetic waves and finding that they are all the same the ended up determining that the ether doesnt exist, electromeagnetic waves don't need a medium to travel through, and we can't determine one's speed through a vacuum.
The experiment tried to measure the speed of earth through the use of relative velocity. It ended up indicating that there was no "ether" and that electromagnetic waves moved through vacum
The experiment tried to find a state of absolute rest for electromagnetic phenomena- tried to find the earth's speed through the ether (the medium for movement through space). It actually showed that it was impossible to measure the speed of the earth through the ether because the ether did not exist (Einstein figured that out)
It tried to show a state of rest for electromagnetic phemonena. it actutally showed that the ethra substance that they were looking fo di not exists and that in a vacum speeds can not be measured.
The Michelson-Morley experiment tried to discover the velocity of the earth by comparing the speed of light in two different directions; parallel and perpendicular to the earth's motion around the sun. Unfortunately, it was discovered that there was no difference in these speeds. As a result, Einstein proposed that the speed of light is a universal constant.
The Michelson-Morley experiment was designed to find a state of absolute rest for electromagnetic reactions. Their experiment proved that all waves need a substance to propagate through. The experiment discovered the medium through which waves travel.
It tried to calculate the speed of the earth, moving through the supposed medium which was called the ether. Using the analogy of other waves, they presumed that light would act the same way. However, it was proven that the earth does not mover through this ether because the ether doesnt exist. Light may travel through a vacuum.
It tried to show that one could determine the speed of the earth by the variations in the speed of electromagnetic waves in the "ether". It showed that there were no variations in the electromagnetic waves, and therefore led towards proving that the "ether" did not exist.
This experiment tried to find a state of absolute rest for electromagnetic phenomena. It actually showed that electromagnetic waves require a medium and in turn, we found that we cannot determine our speed because it is impossible to determine one's speed through a vaccuum.
It tried to test for the existence of "ether" ie space time median. It actually showed that there was no evidence for such a existence.
It tried to determine the speed of the earth through the ether by measuring the relative speed of the electromagnetic waves traveling in different directions. What they ended up actually proving.. which Einstein later discovered.. was that there is in fact NO ETHER, it does not exist.

It attempted to find a state of absolute rest for electromagnetic phenomena. It actually showed that the speed of light is constant and proved the concept of ether void.
The experiment tried to measure the speed of the earth through the ether (space) by looking at the relative speed of electromagnetic waves leaving earth in different directions. Unfortunately, they found no difference in the relative speeds of the electromagnetic waves and could not measure the earth's speed through the ether. It showed, although they did not realize it, that space is a vaccuum with no material for waves to propogate through.
This experiment tried to find where electromagnetic activity was not moving. Instead it found the existence of the electromagnetic wave. Describe Einstein's two postulates of special relativity, in terms that make sense to you.
People moving at the same speed will observe things the same way, and people moving at different speeds might observe things differently. There are no absolute speeds. The second postulate says that light is an electromagnetic phenomenon, and it is observed to go the same speed by all viewers.
For two observers moving at constant speeds that may or may not be the same, the various phenomena, laws, and constants of physics will be the same for both of them. However the speed of light contradicts this first postulate and says that no matter what an observers speed the measured speed of light cannot change.
1. As long as you are moving constantly, the laws of physics don't change. 2. Light always moves at the same speed, always.
First Postulate: absolute speeds and fixed markers in space do not exist. Everyone moving at a constant speed, even if the speed is different from the others, will measure identical laws of physics. Second postulate: The speed of light is always the same, no matter what an object's speed of motion.
1. If I run in canada, they reults of my running can be found by the same physics as if i ran in Asia. 2. Redardless of speed, the speed of light is never precieved ot change.
Einstein's first postulate of special relativity basically states that all motion is relative. It is correct in both situation to say either that the car moves past the sign on the road, or the sign on the road moves past the car. His second postulate pretty much adds to his first, in that all observers have to measure the speed of light at the same value.
Einstein's first postulate states that all observers travelling at the same speed will observe the same physical reactions. His second postulate states that the speed of light is the same no matter what the speed of the observer.
The first postulate sounds simple, that no matter where you are the laws of physics endure. The second postulate is what goes against all of the previous knowledge of physics, that light moves in a wave pattern but has no medium, nothing to measure relative speeds to. Thus light is the same to all observers.
Observers in identical motion (ie two people standing on earths surface) would measure physical events identically. The speed of light is constant, no matter what differences in the observers motion is.
Einstein's first postulate states that all observers moving at constant speed will witness identical laws of physics (will obtain the same results). The second postulate states that the speed of a passing light ray is always measured to be the same by all observers, no matter what their motion is.
The first postulates says that anyone moving at constant speeds will experiance the same laws of physics. The second postulate says that light is the same to everyone reguardless of speed.
First postulate says that any observer in constant motion will measure the speed of something to be the same as any other observer in constant motion. The second postulate says that all observers will measure the speed of light to be the same no matter what their own personal speed of motion is.
The first postulation says for observers moving at a constant speed, the laws of physics remain constant as well. The second postulation says that the speed of light is constant.
1. For any and all observers traveling at a constant speed, the same results will be found when performing experiments with traditional mechanical physics. 2) Light, no matter what the situation of the observer, is always measured to be the same speed.
His first postulate says that observers moving at some speed will observe physics in the same way, as opposed to someone who is stationary. This is like the example we did in class with the train, which showed how people at the station viewed the ball dropping differently from the people on the train. The second postulate says regardless of the observer's speed, the speed of light will be measured the same. This is because the speed of light is so fast that it would be difficult to measure any significant difference if the observer was moving or stationary.

it would it were being ejected from a stationary object. but this is not so with light, because it is an electromagnetic happening.

It does and it doesn't.... It does because this isn't consistent with our calculations when we throw the ball. But it doesn't because we don't throw the ball at the speed of light, or even half the speed of light. What are your questions or concerns from this reading or Wednesday's class?
If gravity affects light, then it seems light has some mass. If it has mass, then how can it travel at the speed of light. Also, if some scientist slowed down/stopped light in a lab, and then let it go, wouldn't that be mass accelerating to the speed of light, which is impossible. I don't get it.
none.
i got nothin'
I'd like an explanation for the last question on this quiz....i remember my physics teacher in high school giving us this same problem and saying it was a "classic" question. Of course, I need a little refresher....Oh- and i agree that the rapid fire dart gun is pretty fun...
None, just lookinf forward to more interesting theories.
Einstein's postulates were a little hard to follow at first. I'd love to hear an explanation for the speed of the Train to Primeville's headlights...
I had a hard time grasping the concepts of time dilation and length contraction. The idea of a change of form due to the speed being travelled seems like fiction.
How can I make more sense of this?
None that I can think of. However, you forgot to fire off all of the darts in your dart gun like you said you would at the end of class.
none thus far
No Response
I don't understand exactly what it means when we say "absolute speed" and why it is different than relative speed.
I need to go over this in class, the whole motion thing. It's a lot to try and digest!
as with all math, the math at the end of the reading confuses me. wednesday's class was solid, no questions there.
I don't completely understand the second postulate and why it is true, and how we know it's true.

Michelson-Morley Experiment and Einstein's Theory of Relativity, Quizzes of Physics

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