Michelson and Morley concluded from the results of their experiment that
A) the experiment was successful in detecting a shift in the interference pattern.
B) the experiment was a failure since they detected a shift in the interference pattern.
C) the result was a surprise since there was no detectable shift in the interference pattern.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Michelson and Morley expected to detect a shift in the interference pattern due to the Earth's movement through the supposed "aether," but their experiment famously found no such shift, leading to the conclusion that the aether did not exist as previously thought. This result was crucial in the development of the theory of relativity.

Michelson and Morley Concluded from the Results of Their Experiment