How Fast Are We Moving?

1
How Fast Are We Moving?
2
Problems with Classical Mechanics
Electric and Magnetic Forces
Static Charges
Moving Charges
Force is reduced!
3
Wave Equations
Waves on a String
Velocity a function of string parameters
Energy is stored in string
Sound Waves
Velocity a function of fluid parameters
Energy is stored in the motion of the fluid
particles
4
Wave Equation for Light in Vacuum
Maxwells Equations
Ether is medium for light
What is the medium?
5
Boats on a River
Down and back
Cross
6
Michelson-Morley Experiment
Case Western Reserve - 1887
Ether Wind
7
Michelson-Morley Experiment
Case Western Reserve - 1887
Ether Wind
8
Michelson-Morley Experiment
Case Western Reserve - 1887
Results
L (cm) Calculation Observation
Ratio Michelson, 1881 120 .04 lt.02
2 Michelson Morley 1887 1100
.40 lt.01 40 Morley Miller, 1902-04
3220 1.13 lt.015 80
Illingworth, 1927 200 .07 lt.0004
175 Joos,1930 2100 .75 lt.002
375
9
Ether DragLorentz-Fitzgerald Contraction
Hypothesis All material in the direction of the
ether wind gets compressed by a factor of
Down stream
Cross stream
10
What Else Must Change?
Does the clock rate also depend on ether velocity?
No change to Michelson-Morley
11
Kennedy-Thorndike Experiment1932
Seasonal Variation
Results No measurable variation
Conclusions

• Sun is stationary with respect to ether or
• Clocks change when moving through ether

12
Stellar Aberrations
Very difficult to measure!
Nonrelativistic
North Star
13
Stellar Aberrations (continued)
Bradleys data on the north-south component of
the aberration of g-Draconis (1727-1728)
Plot taken from French, Special Relativity