Modern Physics – SFT3043

Assignment 1:
A brief explanation on Luminiferous
Ether
Prepared by: Nur Nadia binti Mohamad Nasir
Matric number: D20171078138
Group: B
Lecturer: Encik Mohd Faudzi bin Umar
 Definition
Simply known as ether instead of luminiferous ether.

Luminiferous: Producing or transmitting light (light-

bearing).

Ether: A hypothetical medium for transmitting light.

e.g., water waves through water,

sound waves through air

Modern Physics – SFT3043

 Background
• Physicists’ belief in 19th century; light travelled through a
hypothetical medium called the ether, just as sound
waves travel through air.

• If so, the speed of light measured by observers would

depend on their motion relative to the ether and would
therefore be different in different directions.

• This spontaneously oppose Newton’s laws of motion in

terms of relativity.
Modern Physics – SFT3043
 Towards Modern Relativity
• In Maxwell’s theory the speed of light, in terms of the
permeability and permittivity of free space, was given
by

• Einstein’s conceptual leap was to recognize that if

Maxwell’s equations are valid in all inertial frames, then
the speed of light in vacuum should also be the same in
all frames and in all directions.

Modern Physics – SFT3043

 Einstein’s postulations
1) The principle of relativity: The laws of physics are the
same in all inertial systems. There is no way to detect
absolute motion, and no preferred inertial system
exists.

2) The constancy of the speed of light: Observers in

all inertial systems measure the same value for the
speed of light in a vacuum.

Modern Physics – SFT3043

 Rejection
• The Michelson-Morley experiment was an effort to
detect the existence of ether.

• Michelson and Morley detected no ether motion across

the earth, and the ether concept has been discarded.

• Although Einstein may not have known about this

negative result, it supported his bold hypothesis of the
constancy of the speed of light in vacuum.

Modern Physics – SFT3043

 References
Khan Academy. (2015). Light and the luminiferous ether.
Accessed on 22nd April 2020 from
https://youtu.be/iAPYsOaq-VY

Mohd Faudzi Umar. (2020). Chapter 1 Special Relativity.

Lecture notes of Modern Physics.

Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A., & Ford, A. L. (2013).

University Physics with Modern Physics Technology
Update. Pearson Education. pp. 1223-1225.
Modern Physics – SFT3043
Thank you

Modern Physics – SFT3043