On the relative motion of the earth and the luminiferous ether, pp. 449-463 in: The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, 5th Series, Vol. 24, 1887. THE MICHELSON-MORLEY EXPERIMENT

MICHELSON, Albert & MORLEY, Edward

Edité par London: Taylor & Francis, 1887

First edition, complete journal volume, of the first European printing of the famous Michelson-Morley experiment, one of the most important experiments in the history of physics. The experiment was first announced one month earlier in the American Journal of Science. It was designed to detect the motion of the Earth relative to the aether, the hypothetical medium through which electromagnetic effects (such as light) were supposed to be transmitted (just as sound cannot be transmitted in vacuum but requires a material medium). The negative result of the experiment, which shocked the physics community, led to the downfall of classical physics and was a foundation for Einstein's special theory of relativity. "Michelson, trained at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Morley, minister turned chemist, began a series of experiments to determine the relation of ether drift and the velocity of light, effects of extremely minute values. They used a slightly silvered glass set angular to a ray of sunlight so that a part of the ray was transmitted, a part reflected out and again returned, thereby providing two paths, one perpendicular to the other. If drift existed, the superimposed rays would produce interference. None was observed, showing that the earth's motion did not affect the light's speed. The negative result held revolutionary implications which led directly thru Lorentz and Einstein to the acceptance of new standards of reference of time and space from geometry and cosmometry" (Dibner). In an interview in 1942 Einstein said: "Michelson's experiment removed practically any doubt about the validity of the [relativity] principle in optics and showed that a profound change of the basic concepts of physics was inevitable." Michelson was awarded the 1907 Nobel Prize "for his optical precision instrument (the inteferometer) and the spectroscopic and metrological investigations he has carried on." Dibner, Heralds of Science 161 (listing the present "Philosophical Magazine" version); Norman 1505 (Am. J. Sci. version). 8vo, pp. viii, 524, with 9 plates (ink stamp on title and front paste-down). Contemporary half-calf and marbled boards, contrasting red and black lettering-pieces on spine (rubbed, joints split at head). N° de réf. du vendeur ABE-1625413965462

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : On the relative motion of the earth and the ...
Éditeur : London: Taylor & Francis
Date d'édition : 1887
Reliure : Hardcover
Etat : Good
Edition : 1st Edition