Michelson-Morley and the Aether

This simulation illustrates the effect of the speed of the aether on two photons travelling along perpendicular paths. It was the difference in the motion of these two particles that the Michelson-Morley experiment was attempting to measure.

Directions

The green arrow represents the motion of the aether relative to the apparatus. The slider at the bottom will change the angle of the motion.

Press play to observe the effect of the motion of the aether on the two photons. The photons leave the source at the same time, reflect off a mirror and then return to the origin.

MDole 5/6/2008