Michelson used rotating mirrors, similar to those shown below, to calculate the speed of light. Light is emitted from the light source, reflects from mirror surface X to the plane mirror, and then to the position of surface Z. By the time the light moves from the X to Z position, mirror surface X will have moved to the position of mirror surface Z. The light then continues to the observer. The distances from the light source and the observer to the rotating mirrors are negligible. The distance from the rotating mirrors to the plane mirror is 35.0 km.

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Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
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Michelson used rotating mirrors, similar to those shown below, to calculate the speed of light.


Light is emitted from the light source, reflects from mirror surface X to the plane mirror, and then to the position of surface Z. By the time the light moves from the X to Z position, mirror surface X will have moved to the position of mirror surface Z. The light then continues to the observer. The distances from the light source and the observer to the rotating mirrors are negligible. The distance from the rotating mirrors to the plane mirror is 35.0 km.

If the mirrors are rotating at 480 rev/s, the speed of light calculated from the given information is

light source
X
Z
Y
observer
mirror
Transcribed Image Text:light source X Z Y observer mirror
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