Diagram of the paths of the light rays. The diagram shows the square platform from above, with dotted lines describing the paths of various lights rays as the reflect back and forth. Ref: Michelson, "Studies in Optics," University of Chicago Press, 1927

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1. Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 19-Dec-2022 16:23:49 UTC Robert McNees

   in reply to

   The first experiment wasn't sensitive enough to show anything conclusive.

   In 1885 Michelson began his collaboration with Morley, building a larger and more sensitive version of the interferometer. They performed their experiment over a few months in 1887.

   Here is Michelson's diagram of the apparatus (on a stone block floated on a pool of mercury) and beam paths. Multiple reflections increased the effective length of the arms of the interferometer, enhancing the effect they were looking for.