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Albert Abraham MichelsonAlbert Abraham Michelson
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Life of Albert Abraham MichelsonLife of Albert Abraham Michelson
Born in Poland on Dec Born in Poland on Dec 19, 185219, 1852Family moved in 1855 to Family moved in 1855 to the US, and ended up in the US, and ended up in San FranciscoSan FranciscoAt 17, he entered the At 17, he entered the United States Naval United States Naval Academy at Annapolis Academy at Annapolis Maryland (below average Maryland (below average in seamanship) in seamanship) Graduated in 1873 and Graduated in 1873 and taught physics and taught physics and chemistry at the academy chemistry at the academy from 75-79from 75-79
Cadet at the Naval AcademyReference #3
Various professorships at schools, went to Various professorships at schools, went to Europe to study optics. Europe to study optics. When he returned he calculated c to be 299,853 When he returned he calculated c to be 299,853 km s-1 km s-1 He later bettered the measurement to be He later bettered the measurement to be 299,798 km s-1 299,798 km s-1 He won the Nobel prize for his efforts to He won the Nobel prize for his efforts to calculate c.calculate c.1889-1929 head of the physics dept at the newly 1889-1929 head of the physics dept at the newly organized University of Chicagoorganized University of Chicago1923-1927 president of the National Academy of 1923-1927 president of the National Academy of SciencesSciencesDied on May 9, 1931 in Pasadena CaliforniaDied on May 9, 1931 in Pasadena California
19281887Reference #2 Reference #2
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Albert A. Michelson (center) with (left to right) M.L. Humason, Edwin Hubble, C.E. St. John, Albert Einstein, W.W. Campbell, and W.S. Adams
AccomplishmentsAccomplishments
Michelson-Morley experiment to detect ether.Michelson-Morley experiment to detect ether.1890 – developed theory for interferometric 1890 – developed theory for interferometric observations of single and double stars.observations of single and double stars.Suggested a telescope’s resolving power could Suggested a telescope’s resolving power could be increased using external mirrors in an be increased using external mirrors in an arrangement he called a stellar refractometerarrangement he called a stellar refractometerWas the first to accurately measure the size of a Was the first to accurately measure the size of a star. Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis) – 300 times the star. Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis) – 300 times the diameter of the Sundiameter of the SunWas the 1Was the 1stst American to receive a Nobel Prize in American to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics, 1907Physics, 1907
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Famous Quotes Famous Quotes Quotation from Michelson's address at the dedication ceremony for the Quotation from Michelson's address at the dedication ceremony for the Ryerson Physical Laboratory at the University of Chicago in 1894:Ryerson Physical Laboratory at the University of Chicago in 1894:"The more important fundamental laws and facts of physical science "The more important fundamental laws and facts of physical science have all been discovered, and these are now so firmly established that have all been discovered, and these are now so firmly established that the possibility of their ever being supplanted in consequence of new the possibility of their ever being supplanted in consequence of new discoveries is exceedingly remote.... Our future discoveries must be discoveries is exceedingly remote.... Our future discoveries must be looked for in the sixth place of decimals."looked for in the sixth place of decimals."
Albert Einstein praised Michelson shortly after he died. Albert Einstein praised Michelson shortly after he died. "My honored Dr. "My honored Dr. Michelson, it was you who led the physicists into new paths, and Michelson, it was you who led the physicists into new paths, and through your marvelous experimental work paved the way for the through your marvelous experimental work paved the way for the development of the theory of relativity.“development of the theory of relativity.“
““I doubt any scientific man does his work to render distinguished I doubt any scientific man does his work to render distinguished service. I think he does it because it is good fun.”service. I think he does it because it is good fun.” Michelson on May Michelson on May 16, 1923 during acceptance speech for the Franklin Medal.16, 1923 during acceptance speech for the Franklin Medal.
Mighty Ether Has Struck OutMighty Ether Has Struck OutCopyright 1996 David Arns Copyright 1996 David Arns
The outlook wasn't brilliant for Al Michelson that day,The outlook wasn't brilliant for Al Michelson that day,The project he'd been working on just The project he'd been working on just wouldn'twouldn't go his way. go his way.With Morley, he'd been working on this simple apparatusWith Morley, he'd been working on this simple apparatusTo indicate the speed of Earth through ether's rigid lattice. You see, To indicate the speed of Earth through ether's rigid lattice. You see, electromagnetism moves through outer space,electromagnetism moves through outer space,And it moves, as had been proven, at an astronomic pace.And it moves, as had been proven, at an astronomic pace.And, of course, it was "self-evident," and "every schoolboy knew"And, of course, it was "self-evident," and "every schoolboy knew"That wave motion needs a medium for it to vibrate through. That wave motion needs a medium for it to vibrate through.
The speed at which a wave proceeds depends on the rigidityThe speed at which a wave proceeds depends on the rigidityOf the stuff it's going through, and hence, extreme rapidityOf the stuff it's going through, and hence, extreme rapidityRequires a medium strange indeed: it must be inelastic,Requires a medium strange indeed: it must be inelastic,While still allowing matter through--this stuff must be fantastic! So While still allowing matter through--this stuff must be fantastic! So even though no evidence had ever been presented,even though no evidence had ever been presented,The existence of this "ether" that the physics world inventedThe existence of this "ether" that the physics world inventedHad so taken scientists by storm that no one ever thoughtHad so taken scientists by storm that no one ever thoughtThe idea might be wrong, and it would shortly come to naught. Well, The idea might be wrong, and it would shortly come to naught. Well, Michelson and Morley, they believed it like the rest,Michelson and Morley, they believed it like the rest,
And set about to prove its truth, and so conceived a testAnd set about to prove its truth, and so conceived a testWhich split a beam of light, and at right angles them aligned,Which split a beam of light, and at right angles them aligned,To show the interference patterns when they recombined. So To show the interference patterns when they recombined. So Michelson and Morley, they set up a granite slab,Michelson and Morley, they set up a granite slab,And floated it on mercury they'd gotten from the lab.And floated it on mercury they'd gotten from the lab.They put a light source on the top, some mirrors, and a splitter;They put a light source on the top, some mirrors, and a splitter;With bated breath, they lit the lamp, their eyes were all a-glitter. With bated breath, they lit the lamp, their eyes were all a-glitter.
They looked upon the tiny screen at interference fringesThey looked upon the tiny screen at interference fringes(When a pair of out-of-phase beams on a screen impinges).(When a pair of out-of-phase beams on a screen impinges).But the fringes wouldn't shift at all, at that or But the fringes wouldn't shift at all, at that or anyany angle angleTo which they turned their optics bench, their massive stone To which they turned their optics bench, their massive stone rectangle. This history-making failure was truly quite successful,rectangle. This history-making failure was truly quite successful,Although for these two scientists, I'm sure 'twas very stressful.Although for these two scientists, I'm sure 'twas very stressful.The lesson that I hope we've learned, as connoisseurs of science,The lesson that I hope we've learned, as connoisseurs of science,Is that Is that truthtruth, and not assumptions, make with us the best alliance. , and not assumptions, make with us the best alliance.
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9)9) http://www.usna.edu/LibExhibits/Michelson/Michelson_intro.html, http://www.usna.edu/LibExhibits/Michelson/Michelson_intro.html, 10/18/0410/18/04By Natalie Valentine, adapted from an earlier presentation
