MuffinMan
Juno 15/4/08 :)
1. Outline the features of the aether model and the reasons that scientists believed that it needed to exist
2. List the supposed features of the aether
3a. Identify the objective of the Michelson-Morley experiment
3b. Construct a diagram showing the paths of the light rays in the Michelson-Morley experiment
See surfing physics...sorry couldnt attatch it file was too big
3c. Write a one paragraph description on how the apparatus worked
3d. The experiment had a very definitive result. Explain the result
4. Evaluate the success of the Michelson-Morley experiment in proving or disapproving the aether model. Outline the result
5. Outline the essential aspects of inertial frame of reference and identify a method to distinguish between an inertial and non-inertial frame of reference
6. You are in a spaceship heading, you think, in free motion towards Pluto; however you are far from any reference point to check your progress. Suddenly a comet approaches you and overtakes you, heading in the same direction. Identify which of the following interpretations of the events are correct and distinguish them
a) the comet is travelling towards Pluto, travelling at a high speed
b) your spaceship is stationary but the comet is heading towards Pluto
c) the comet is stationary and you are travelling away from Pluto
d) you are both travelling away from Pluto, but you have a higher speed
whoever has jacaranda can you help me finish the rest
this took me ages and im only up to q6
sorry
Aether model – property (reason)
- fill space (light travelled everywhere)
- be stationary in space (light travelled in straight lines. If the aether was in motion, its movement would change the path of light travelling through it.)
- be transparent (we can’t see it)
- permeate all matter (light travelled everywhere)
- have an extremely low density (it can’t be detected)
- have great elasticity (transfer of energy over long distances requires the medium to have high elasticity otherwise significant amounts of energy will be “lost” to the particles in the medium
- fill space (light travelled everywhere)
- be stationary in space (light travelled in straight lines. If the aether was in motion, its movement would change the path of light travelling through it.)
- be transparent (we can’t see it)
- permeate all matter (light travelled everywhere)
- have an extremely low density (it can’t be detected)
- have great elasticity (transfer of energy over long distances requires the medium to have high elasticity otherwise significant amounts of energy will be “lost” to the particles in the medium
2. List the supposed features of the aether
– fill space
– be stationary in space
– be transparent
– permeate all matter
– have an extremely low density
– have great elasticity
– be stationary in space
– be transparent
– permeate all matter
– have an extremely low density
– have great elasticity
3a. Identify the objective of the Michelson-Morley experiment
The purpose of this experiment was to detect the aether wind.
3b. Construct a diagram showing the paths of the light rays in the Michelson-Morley experiment
See surfing physics...sorry couldnt attatch it file was too big
3c. Write a one paragraph description on how the apparatus worked
The equipment used by Michelson and Morley (an interferometer) reflected light from a common source in two directions and then back to the observation point. If the aether existed, then the light rays travelling with and against should interfere with each other more than the rays travelling at right angles to the aether’s motion.
3d. The experiment had a very definitive result. Explain the result
The result of this experiment was a null result. This means that it did not approve or disapprove the hypothesis; in this case, it did not approve or disapprove the existence of the aether.
4. Evaluate the success of the Michelson-Morley experiment in proving or disapproving the aether model. Outline the result
Although it did not approve or disapprove the aether model, with hindsight, the result of the Michelson-Morley experiment has been able to help scientists in the twentieth century to reject the aether model and accept Einstein’s relativity. In this sense, it has been an important experiment in helping others to decide between competing theories, along with comparative success of relativity experiments.
It is important to note, however, that it did not sway scientific belief at that time. Aether supporters saw the null result as an indication that their model needed improvement. Einstein, although apparently aware of the Michelson-Morley result, was not influenced by it and was unconcerned with proposed aether model modifications. He was approaching the problem from an entirely different direction
It is important to note, however, that it did not sway scientific belief at that time. Aether supporters saw the null result as an indication that their model needed improvement. Einstein, although apparently aware of the Michelson-Morley result, was not influenced by it and was unconcerned with proposed aether model modifications. He was approaching the problem from an entirely different direction
5. Outline the essential aspects of inertial frame of reference and identify a method to distinguish between an inertial and non-inertial frame of reference
A frame that is not accelerating is called an inertial frame of reference. Motion can not be detected from an inertial frame of reference.
Motion is detectable from a non-inertial frame of reference – one which is accelerating. The principle of relativity does not hold in a non-inertial frame of reference.
Experiment: Inertial and Non-Inertial Frames of Reference
Aim: The purpose of the experiment was to distinguish between inertial and non-inertial frames of reference whilst on a train.
Method: A passenger travelling on a train records how they determined whether or not they detect the train moving and/or accelerating.
Results: Travelling at a constant speed change in position could not be felt (except for the rocking of the train) and was only detectable by looking outside the window of the train.
When the train was accelerating, the passenger is noted to have felt a force pushing them backwards. When the train was coming to rest, a force pushing forward was noted.
Conclusion: The experiment was successful in determining the difference between inertial and non-inertial frames of reference.
Discussion: While travelling at a constant speed, it was not possible to detect motion without the aid of an external point of reference (i.e. stationary objects outside the train as viewed from the window). This is therefore an inertial frame of reference.
While the train is accelerating/decelerating forces were felt by the passenger. This is therefore a non-inertial frame of reference. Thus the results prove Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Motion is detectable from a non-inertial frame of reference – one which is accelerating. The principle of relativity does not hold in a non-inertial frame of reference.
Experiment: Inertial and Non-Inertial Frames of Reference
Aim: The purpose of the experiment was to distinguish between inertial and non-inertial frames of reference whilst on a train.
Method: A passenger travelling on a train records how they determined whether or not they detect the train moving and/or accelerating.
Results: Travelling at a constant speed change in position could not be felt (except for the rocking of the train) and was only detectable by looking outside the window of the train.
When the train was accelerating, the passenger is noted to have felt a force pushing them backwards. When the train was coming to rest, a force pushing forward was noted.
Conclusion: The experiment was successful in determining the difference between inertial and non-inertial frames of reference.
Discussion: While travelling at a constant speed, it was not possible to detect motion without the aid of an external point of reference (i.e. stationary objects outside the train as viewed from the window). This is therefore an inertial frame of reference.
While the train is accelerating/decelerating forces were felt by the passenger. This is therefore a non-inertial frame of reference. Thus the results prove Einstein’s theory of relativity.
6. You are in a spaceship heading, you think, in free motion towards Pluto; however you are far from any reference point to check your progress. Suddenly a comet approaches you and overtakes you, heading in the same direction. Identify which of the following interpretations of the events are correct and distinguish them
a) the comet is travelling towards Pluto, travelling at a high speed
b) your spaceship is stationary but the comet is heading towards Pluto
c) the comet is stationary and you are travelling away from Pluto
d) you are both travelling away from Pluto, but you have a higher speed
a could be right
u know that u are moving
so its not b
and space ships dont go backwards
u know that u are travelling forwards
ut if the comet is faster slower than u and
u are moving away from pluto then u are not moving
backwards
u hav to see the comet in front of u and go
backwards
so its not d, but a
u know that u are moving
so its not b
and space ships dont go backwards
u know that u are travelling forwards
ut if the comet is faster slower than u and
u are moving away from pluto then u are not moving
backwards
u hav to see the comet in front of u and go
backwards
so its not d, but a
whoever has jacaranda can you help me finish the rest
this took me ages and im only up to q6
sorry
