Program 16: Michelson and Morley's experiment
Introduction and Purpose
The purpose of the program MMX.BAS is to simulate the interference fringes of the Michelson and Morley's Experiment demonstating four different explanations:
- Without Length contraction and Without Time dilution (Shift)
- With Length contraction. (No shift)
- With Time Dilution (No shift)
- With both Length contraction and Time Dilution (Shift)
To get a copy select: MMX.BAS
To see the listing of the program select: mmx.htm
For more information about the Michelson and Morley's Experiment select: mmx_exp.htm
The program consists of 1 display and two parts.
- In part 1 the program asks to enter a TYPE value. The parameter TYPE is used to demonstrate the experiment with 7 different setup conditions.
- In part 2 the simulation is performed.
The simulation consists of two sets of lines and a central part.
- The horizontal lines shows the waves which are reflected in the vertical direction. The mirror is towards the top.
- The vertical lines shows the waves which are reflected in the horizon direction. The mirror is towards the right.
- The central part show the interference fringes.
It is possible to perform the simulation under 7 different setup conditions.
The parameters which define those setups are: distance d towards the mirrors, speed of light c, speed v, wave length labda.
- type 1 performs a simulation under "laboratory" conditions.
c = 100 km/sec, v = 0, d = 100 cm, labda = 4 cm
The central part shows the interference fringes.
- type 2 is almost the same as type 1 i.e. a simulation under "laboratory" conditions.
v = 15 km/sec towards the right.
The display is shown for an observer which also has a speed of v = 15 km/sec.
The interference pattern is in the center.
- type 3 is almost the same as type 1 i.e. a simulation under "laboratory" conditions.
v = 15 km/sec towards the right.
The display is shown for an observer which has a speed of v = 0 km/sec.
If you compare type 2 and type 3 than the interference pattern of type 3 has an offset towards the right.
- type 4 is the real simulation. Similar as type 2.
c = 300000 km/sec, v = 60km/sec, d= 1100 cm and labda 5.9*10^-5 cm.
The observer has a speed of 60 km/sec.
- type 5 is identical as type 4, but now for different values of v. The simulation works like a movie, with 7 frames, each with a difference of 10 km/sec
- type 6 is the real simulation. Similar as type 3.
c = 300000 km/sec, v = 60km/sec, d= 1100 cm and labda 0,059 cm.
The observer has a speed of 0 km/sec
The simulation works like a movie, with 7 frames, each with a difference of 10 km/sec
- type 7 shows the experiment over a continuous angle of 90 degrees.
c = 300000 km/sec, v = 20000km/sec, d= 1100 cm
To demonstrate the four different explanations proceed as follows:
- First select type 4. This will demonstrate the MM experiment with Length Contraction.
There is no interference pattern shift.
- Secondly Select again type 4. This will demonstatate the MM experiment without Length Contraction and without Time dilution. The interference pattern will shift.
- Selecting again type 4 will repeat the first selection.
- Third select type -4. This will demonstrate the MM experiment with only Time dilution.
There is no interference pattern shift.
- Fourth Select again type -4. This will demonstatate the MM experiment with both Length Contraction and Time dilution. The interference pattern will shift.
- Selecting again type -4 will repeat the third selection.
If you want to see the same explanations but now in slow motion, like a movie, repeat those same steps but now using type 5.
The central part of the display also shows two white lines. Both lines represent the position of a wave at the same moment t1.
The horizontal white line represents the position of the wave at t1.
t1 = distance of light path in vertical direction divided by c
t1 = (2 * d / SQR(1 - vē / cē) / c
t1 = 2*d/SQR(cē-vē)
t2 = distance of light path in horizontal direction (mirror towards the right) divided by c
t2 = d / (c - v) + d / (c + v)
t2 = 2*d*c/(cē-vē)
t2 is larger than t1
This means, in case no length contraction is considerd, that the vertical white line at t1 should be on the right side from the center of the display.
In case length contraction is considerd in horizontal direction, the distance d changes to:
d = d * SQR(1 - vē / cē)
t21 = distance of light path in vertical direction divided by c now becomes:
t21 = t2 * SQR(1 - vē / cē)
t21 = 2 *d * c/(cē-vē)*SQR(1 - vē / cē)=2 *d * c/(cē-vē)*SQR(cē - vē) / c
t21 = 2 *d /(cē-vē)*SQR(cē - vē) = 2 *d / SQR(cē - vē)
This means that t21 = t1
The means is that when length contraction is considerd, the two white lines should go through the same point.
In case time dilution is considered in horizontal direction the moment t1 is adjusted to t11.
t11 = t1 * 1 / SQR(1 - vē / cē) = t1 * c /SQR(cē - vē)
t11 = 2 * d/SQR(cē-vē)*c /SQR(cē - vē) = 2 *d*c /(cē - vē)
This means that t11 = t2
The means is that when time dilution is considerd, the two white lines should also go through the same point.
The central part of the display is the matrix ARRAY with consists of 170 by 170 pixels.
The program consists of two main sections.
In the first main section the horizontal set of lines are drawn (mirror towards the top) Each line represents the position of a wave at a certain moment. Each of those lines is in the same phase.
In the second main section the vertical set of lines are drawn (mirror towards the right). Those lines are also in the same phase
Each set of lines consists of primary lines (for example 3) and secondary lines.
The primary lines are at one wave length (labda) distance apart.
In order to draw the interference pattern the program works as follow:
- First the program will draw the primary lines in the horizontal direction. For example 3.
Those lines are drawn in the color 7 (gray).
- Next the program draws the primary lines in the vertical direction. For example 3.
Those lines are also drawn in the color 7 (gray). However when at a certain position there
is already a gray dot the color will be white. At such we will get 9 white dots. At those positions the waves amplify each other (coincide).
- Next the program will clear all gray dots.
- Next the program will draw each of the secondary lines and the corresponding white dots in the same manner as explained above.
- When all the lines are drawn the program will display the interference pattern i.e. only the white dots.
In order to simulate the four different explanations two variables are used:LCONTRACT and TDILUTION.
The distance to the spiegel is controlled by three different parameters: DSPIEGEL, DSPIEGELX (horizontal) and DSPIEGELY (vertical). Initial are all the three the same.
When LCONTRACT is one DSPIEGELX (DSPIEGELXX) is modified with the factor SQR(1-vē/cē)
When TDILUTION is one the time variabel t or t0 is modified with the factor 1/SQR(1-vē/cē)
- The above simulation shows that the explanation for the Michelson and morley's experiment is length contraction or time dilution.
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Created:15 December 2000
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