What was the Michelson-Morley experiment's significance?
The Michelson-Morley experiment was designed to detect the luminiferous aether, a hypothetical medium thought to carry light waves. By precisely measuring the speed of light in different directions, we expected to observe variations due to Earth's motion through this aether. However, the experiment yielded a null result – no such variation was detected. This surprising outcome fundamentally challenged prevailing theories and paved the way for new conceptions of space and time, ultimately influencing Einstein's theory of special relativity.
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