Exam-style question
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What does the null result of the Michelson–Morley experiment demonstrate about the existence of the luminiferous ether?.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The null result shows that no difference in light speed was detected as the Earth moved through the supposed ether, indicating that the ether does not exist.
- This finding supports the idea that light propagates at a constant speed in all inertial frames and was a key step toward the development of special relativity.
Explanation
Why this works
Rule: The experiment was designed to detect a shift in interference fringes caused by Earth's motion through the ether. Substitution: None.
Working: No shift was observed, meaning the speed of light was the same in all directions. Answer: The null result demonstrates that the luminiferous ether does not exist.
Units/Conclusion: The conclusion is that the ether hypothesis is invalid, supporting the constancy of light speed.
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