Kennedy–Thorndike experiment
E32550
The Kennedy–Thorndike experiment is a classic test of special relativity that examined the constancy of the speed of light using an interferometer with unequal arm lengths and varying laboratory velocity.
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
physics experiment
→
test of special relativity → |
| aim |
detect dependence of light speed on laboratory velocity
→
test time dilation independently of length contraction → |
| approach |
monitor fringe shifts over time
→
one arm parallel to Earth’s motion → one arm perpendicular to Earth’s motion → |
| assumes |
inertial laboratory frame
→
no preferred reference frame → |
| category |
experiments in special relativity
→
tests of the speed of light constancy → |
| comparedWith |
Michelson–Morley experiment with equal arms
→
|
| constrains |
Lorentz-violating theories
→
ether-drift theories → |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States
→
|
| dependsOn |
Earth’s changing velocity around the Sun
→
|
| designedBy |
Edward M. Thorndike
→
Roy J. Kennedy → |
| field |
physics
→
relativity → |
| historicalPeriod |
early 20th century
→
|
| implies |
time dilation must accompany length contraction
→
|
| influenced |
development of precision tests of relativity
→
|
| inspired |
modern resonator-based tests of Lorentz invariance
→
|
| measures |
fringe shift in interferometer
→
|
| namedAfter |
Edward M. Thorndike
→
Roy J. Kennedy → |
| performedAt |
Mount Wilson Observatory
→
|
| precision |
high-precision test of Lorentz invariance
→
|
| publishedIn |
Physical Review
→
|
| relatedTo |
Einstein’s special relativity
→
Ives–Stilwell experiment → Lorentz transformation → Michelson–Morley experiment → |
| result |
null result
→
|
| status |
experimentally confirmed
→
|
| supports |
special relativity
→
|
| tests |
Lorentz invariance
→
constancy of the speed of light → isotropy of the speed of light → length contraction → time dilation → |
| theoreticalFramework |
Lorentz–Einstein transformations
→
|
| uses |
Earth’s orbital motion
→
optical interferometer → unequal arm lengths → |
| year |
1932
→
|
Referenced by (2)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Ives–Stilwell experiment
→
Michelson–Morley experiment → |
relatedTo |