Tulsi Prajna 1990 06

SR No.: 524562
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 74
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 4 MB

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Vol. XVI, No. 1 Morley performed a classic experiment in Cleaveland in the year 1881. In this experiment, light-rays were used to detect the effect of earth's motion on the ether, and thus prove its real existence.
The principle behind the Michelson-Morley experiment is quite simple. If the absolute space is a motionless ocean of ether and if the stellar bodies are floating in this infinite ocean of ether, it would be possible to measure the actual velocity of his ship moving in the ocean. Michelson and Morley used a beam of light for measuring the velocity of the earth through the ocean of ether.
The principle was : If the earth were standing still in the ether, the time of a double journey of given length would of course always be the same, regardless of its direction in space. But if the ea moving through a sea of ether in an easterly direction, it is easy to see that a double journcy, first from east to west and then from west to east, ought to take slightly more time than one of equal length in north-south and south-north directions. No more recondite principle is involved than in the common experience that it takes longer to row a boat 100 yards upstream and 100 yards down-stream than to row 200 yards across as the stream ; in the former case we go slowly upstream, and come quickly down-stream, but the gain of time in rowing down with the current is not sufficient to make good the time previously lost in rowing up against the current. If two oarsmen of equal speed set out simultaneously to row the two courses, the cross-stream rower will arrive first, and the difference between their times of arrival will disclose the speed of the current. It was anticipated that, in precisely the same way, if there was really an ether-stream generated by the motion of the earth moving through it, a beam of light travelling in the direction of the postulated ether stream and returning back would take longer than the beam of light which would traverse the same distance in the direction at right angle to the postulated ether stream. The difference in the times taken by the two beams of light would disclose the speed of the earth's motion throagh the ether.
Michelson and Morley used an interferometer consisting of an arrangement of mirrors, so designed that a beam transmitted from a light source was divided and sent in two directions (at right angles to each other) at the same time. The whole apparatus was rotated in different directions so that the two different beams could be sent with, against and at right angles to the postulated ether-stream. The interferometer was also provided with the optical apparatus which could detect the acceleration or retardation of either beam by the etherstream.
The experiment was performed $o carefully that there was no