Summary Statements - 10 of X - The Michelson-Morley experiment - How fast is the earth moving?
In the late 1800's, the Michelson-Morley experiment was performed to measure the effect of the (stationary) ether on light waves as the earth travels around the sun. Since the earth is “supposed” to be traveling around the sun at a speed of 30 km/s, a significant (interference) effect was expected.
Note: There are two key assumptions that were made as part of the experiment:
Assumption #1: The heliocentric view of the solar system is correct - the earth is assumed to be traveling around the sun.
Assumption #2: The light waves must travel through “something.” That something was assumed to be the “ether,” and the “ether” was assumed permeate the universe and to be at rest in it.
Note: The details of this experiment will be discussed in depth later in this blog (mention also Airy's experiment performed earlier). [see M Bowden “True Science Agrees with the Bible” pgs. 445-447 & add other references]
The Michelson-Morley experiment astonished the scientific community by yielding a (but not quite) “null result.” The most obvious inference from the experiment was that the earth is stationary relative to the ether. Since the ether was assumed to permeate the universe, this would mean that the earth is not in motion. This interpretation is consistent with the view that the earth is the center of the universe. Alternately, it could also be that there is no ether, but that would invalidate other physics theories (esp. Maxwell's electromagnetic equations).
The simple interpretation was unacceptable/inconceivable to the scientists of that day (and today) as they “knew” that the earth was in motion around the sun (how did they “know” this?). It was “impossible” for the earth to be the center of the universe – as that would imply that man held a “special” place in the universe!
Another solution had to be found to explain the “null” results. That solution awaited the development of Einstein's rather abstract, but concise, theory of relativity (which introduced it's own set of problems/paradoxes).
To “explain” the null results of the Michelson-Morley experiment, Einstein postulated in his special theory of relativity that there is no ether. This theory also assumes that the speed of light is constant regardless of the frame of reference.
Questions to be answered:
What was the Michelson-Morley experiment?
Did it prove the earth is moving through the ether?
What did Einstein postulate in his special theory of relativity?
Other questions ….
