In 1887 Michelson and Morley presented the results of their now famous experiment that led them to conclude there was no significant relative motion between the earth and the ether. However, the data they published show large systematic trends. Michelson and Morley do not explain how they removed these trends in their analysis. The present work attempts to reconstruct this missing part of the analysis. In addition, modern statistical hypothesis testing and estimation methods are applied to the published data. This new analysis confirms the original null conclusion.
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© 1982 American Association of Physics Teachers.
1982
American Association of Physics Teachers
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