Michelson–Morley Experiment Measured the Speed of Light
Introduction
Albert A. Michelson (1852–1931) was an American physicist renowned for his work on measuring the speed of light, most notably through the Michelson–Morley experiment.
Early Life and Self-Education
Michelson’s career began with an interest in optics and measurement while serving in the United States Navy.
Contributions
Michelson’s primary contributions were in the field of optics and precision measurement:
- He conducted preliminary measurements of the speed of light in 1878, publishing a result of 299,910 ± 50 km/s in 1879.
- He developed a rotating-mirror method, inspired by Léon Foucault, to measure the speed of light, using improved optics and a longer baseline.
- Utilized similar optical instrumentation.
- Influenced attempts to affirm Albert Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity.
- Was a significant scientific endeavor.
Vision
Michelson was a pioneer in precision optical measurement. His dedication to refining experimental techniques led to increasingly accurate determinations of the speed of light and had profound implications for physics.
Legacy
Michelson’s work had a lasting impact on physics. His measurements of the speed of light were crucial in the development of relativity theory. The Michelson–Morley experiment is considered one of the most important experiments in the history of physics. In 1907, he received the Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming the first American to win a Nobel Prize in the sciences.