Albert A. Micheleson & Edward W. Morley

Created by Adrienne Dooley

In 1887, Albert A. Micheleson and Edward W. Morley performed what is now considered one of the most famous failed experiments.

Personal Life

Albert A. Micheleson

Albert A. Micheleson was born on December 19, 1852 in Strelno, Prussia. Following high school graduation he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy by President Grant. After leaving the military, he continued his educations, studying at the Universities of Berlin and Heidelberg, and the College de France and Ecole Polytechnique in Paris. In 1883, he accepted a position as Professor of Physics at the Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland, Ohio, where he performed the Micheleson-Morley experiment. Following his employment at Case, he taught physics at both Clark University and the University of Chicago, becoming the Head of Department at the later. He rejoined the Navy from 1918-1929, resigning to work at the Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena, California. He married Edna Stanton of Lake Forest, Illinois in 1899. The couple had four children.

Edward W. Morley

Edward W. Morley was born in 1838 and was raised on Connecticut and Massachusetts. He was graduated from Williams College in 1860. He began his career with the ministry and worked in the United States Sanitary Commission and taught eleven different subjects at the South Berkshire Institute. He earned honorary degrees from Cleveland Medical Colleges and Wooster College. He accepted a position as Instructor of Chemistry, Geology, Natural History, and Mathematics at Western Reserve College in Hudson, Ohio and remained as an emeritus professor until 1906. Aside from the Micheleson-Morley experiment, he worked researched the determination of molecular weights using "wet chemistry." His research on the atomic weight of oxygen provided a new standard for chemistry and to this date the accuracy of his analysis has not been superseded by chemical means. He was married to Isabella Birdsall.

Miceleson-Morley Experiment

Background

In the 19th century, scientists believed in the existence of a luminiferous ether, a medium in which light waves could flow through across the Earth's surface.

Results

The null result was used to justify Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

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