----- Original Message ----- From: Horace Heffner <hheff...@mtaonline.net> Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009 8:02 pm Subject: Re: [Vo]:Michelson-Morley Interferometer experiment finally done correctly?
> > On Sep 10, 2009, at 2:17 PM, Harry Veeder wrote: > > > > > I still find the sagging beam splitter explanation inconsistent with > > what is observed. > > > > > > As the beam splitter rotates into and out of the vertical > > orientation this is when the supposed sagging is nil so the > pattern's> movement should change direction during this interval. > When the beam > > splitter is oriented horizontally this is when sagging is at a > maximum> so the pattern should be > > moving the fastest. > > > > Where have I gone wrong? > > > > harry > > The pattern moves when there is a change in the two path lengths. > That movement is maximum when the path length difference *changes* > most rapidly, not when one path is at a maximum or minimum length > with respect to each other. > Ok, but the switch in direction of movement of the pattern must also be explained by the deflection of the beam splitter. This switch must be a function of the direction of deflection of the beam splitter w.r.t. the laser. Since this direction of deflection only changes twice w.r.t. to the laser, the switch in direction of the pattern only occurs twice. Is this correct? harry
