Michelson–Morleyn.
/ˌmʌɪkls(ə)nˈmɔːli/, U.S. /ˌmaɪkəls(ə)nˈmɔrli/ Physics.
1. Michelson–Morley experiment n. an experiment (performed by A. A. Michelson and E. W. Morley in 1887) in which a beam of light is divided into two parts which are made to travel over two paths, one parallel and one at right angles to the earth's motion, before being recombined, the behaviour of the resulting interference fringes showing that the speed of light is the same in both directions, thereby contradicting the 19th-cent. theory that the earth moves through an ether in which light waves are propagated.The Lorentz contraction was proposed in order to account for the results of the experiment, which were explained in 1905 by Einstein's special theory of relativity.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > emission of light, radiation > [noun] > speed of light > experiment
Michelson experiment1892
Michelson–Morley experiment1896
1896 Philos. Trans. 1895 (Royal Soc.) A. 186 ii. 696 The discussion of the topics above mentioned, with the exception of the Michelson-Morley experiment, is quite independent of any speculation as to the nature of electrons or the relation of æther to matter.
1904 E. W. Morley in Science 25 Nov. 731/2 Report of a repetition of the Michelson-Morley experiment on the drift of the earth through the luminiferous ether.
1913 O. Lodge Continuity 20 Many forms of statement of the famous Michelson–Morley experiment are misleading.
1925 I. A. Richards Princ. Lit. Crit. x. 71 No new facts nor any new hypotheses—no Michelson–Morley experiment, nor any widened purview—led up to the separate value theory of art.
1965 D. Bohm Special Theory of Relativity xxii. 107 The Michelson–Morley experiment may be regarded as an excellent confirmation of the Lorentz contraction.
1992 N. M. J. Woodhouse Special Relativity i. 2 H. A. Lorentz suggested that the Michelson–Morley experiment gave a null result because rigid bodies are contracted in the direction of their motion.
2. Michelson–Morley apparatus n. the apparatus used in performing the Michelson–Morley experiment.
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1930 Science 26 Sept. 307/1 Thus the various parts of the Michelson-Morley apparatus..might change in length, as they were placed alternatively parallel and perpendicular to the direction of motion, to such an extent as to compensate for the effect it was expected the test might show.
1960 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. VII. 505/1 The Michelson–Morley apparatus..consists of a horizontal Michelson interferometer with its two arms at right angles.
1988 T. Ferris Coming of Age in Milky Way i. ix. 180 The Michelson–Morley apparatus..was based on the principle of interferometry.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1896