Science Journal of Physics

January 2014, Volume 2014, ISSN:2276-6367

© Author(s) 2014. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Research Article

 

Review of Michelson's and Fizeau's experiments

Author: ShukriKlinaku

University ofPrishtina, SheshiNėnaTerezė, 10000, Prishtina, Kosova.

Accepted 11th December, 2013; Available Online 4 January 2014

doi: 10.7237/sjp/102

Abstract:

The construction of the theory of special relativityis based inter alia on the interpretation of Michelson's and Fizeau's experiments. Even today there are dilemmas about Michelson's experiment. A very simple explanation for this experiment will be given in this paper. The research undertaken will prove that Michelson applied the principle of Galileo in his experiment, but he implemented it only partially. Now this research will implement this principle completely. As a consequence is obtained a conclusion that Michelson's expectation(the idea of the experiment) was wrong. Next, we will point out the confusion of the physicists regarding the nature of the relative motion being studied. One such confusion appeared in Fizeau's experiment. The kind of relative motion studied in this experiment is not of such nature to which the principle of Galileo is valid. Therefore, this experimentcannot be counted as deserved for assessing theprinciple of Galileo. For the same reason it cannot be taken as proof for the theory of special relativity..

Keyword:Michelson's experiment, Lorentz factor, velocity of light, the theory of special relativity, Galileo principle

 

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