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From: merrill@rex.DEC
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: LIGHTSPEED...
Message-ID: <17@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Nov-84 08:41:46 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.17
Posted: Tue Nov 13 08:41:46 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Nov-84 03:56:54 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 27

Michaelson & Morley setup an elegant experiment to measure the earth's
velocity through the "either" that was the "medium" in which light travelled.
Their Negative findings proved that (a) the "either" was non-existant and
(b) that the speed of light was the same in any direction [ and therefore
in any coordinate system ]. (Encyclopedia of Mathematics)  

Light propogates as TWO sets of waves: one electrical field, and one
magnetic field. As the magnetic field colapses it creates an electrical field;
as the electrical field colapses it creates a magnetic field, and VOILA THE
light propogates without benefit of media.

Now while the mathematics makes the speed of light appear the same in any
coordinate system, engineering the experiment requires detecting either or
both electrical and magnetic fields [so what?] so you actually detect the
frequency of the signal [should have said "A frequency"].

So if the "boys and girls chasing each other and firing lasars" are racing
through space and using the same ruby lasars, what frequencies will they
appear to receive???

Please let them stay in space because if their light beams go through
air the air molecules will interact with the elec-magn fields and slow down
the light [what if anything happens to the "frequency"?].


	Rick Merrill
				decwrl::rex::merrill