The Michelson-Morley experiment (AQA A-Level Physics): Quizzes
📚Quizzes
Practise the questions
10 questions from this quiz
ShowHide
Practise the questions
10 questions from this quiz
What was the Michelson-Morley Experiment designed to test?
What was the Michelson-Morley Experiment designed to test?
Absolute motion and existence of ether
In the 19th century, what did scientists believe the ether was?
In the 19th century, what did scientists believe the ether was?
A medium permeating the universe
What was Michelson and Morley's aim?
What was Michelson and Morley's aim?
Measure Earth's speed through the ether
What key component divided the light in the interferometer?
What key component divided the light in the interferometer?
A beam splitter
How were the two mirrors positioned in the interferometer?
How were the two mirrors positioned in the interferometer?
At right angles to each other
What did the recombined beams form at the detector?
What did the recombined beams form at the detector?
An interference pattern
What did Michelson and Morley predict rotating the apparatus by would do?
What did Michelson and Morley predict rotating the apparatus by would do?
Shift the interference pattern
What did the experiment show when the apparatus was rotated?
What did the experiment show when the apparatus was rotated?
No shift in the interference pattern
What did the results conclude about the speed of light in free space?
What did the results conclude about the speed of light in free space?
It is invariant
Which theory did the results become fundamental to?
Which theory did the results become fundamental to?
Einstein's theory of special relativity