Trouton–Noble experiment

E32680

The Trouton–Noble experiment was an early 20th-century test of the luminiferous aether that searched for a torque on a charged capacitor in motion and, by finding no such effect, provided support for the emerging theory of special relativity.

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Predicate Object
instanceOf aether-drift experiment
physics experiment
test of special relativity
addressedProblem compatibility of electromagnetism with Galilean relativity
existence of absolute rest frame
aimedToDetect torque on a moving charged capacitor
alsoKnownAs Trouton–Noble experiment
surface form: Trouton and Noble experiment
assumedFrame aether rest frame
category historical experiments in relativity
tests of Lorentz invariance
conclusion no evidence for motion through luminiferous aether
result consistent with special relativity
contradictsTheory simple stationary aether models
country United Kingdom
era pre-World War I physics
expectedResultUnderAetherTheory non-zero torque on the capacitor when in uniform motion through aether
field electromagnetism
relativity
historicalSignificance early empirical support for Einstein’s special relativity
helped undermine the luminiferous aether hypothesis
interpretedUsing Lorentz transformation
surface form: Lorentz transformations
measurementType torque measurement
motionTypeTested uniform translational motion
namedAfter Frederick Thomas Trouton
H. R. Noble
observedResult no measurable torque
performedAt University College London
performedIn early 20th century
predictionFrom aether theory
pre-relativistic electromagnetic theory
principle a moving electric field in aether should create a magnetic field and mechanical torque
publicationType peer-reviewed physics paper
relatedConcept Poynting vector
electromagnetic momentum
relativistic transformation of fields
relatedTo Lorentz invariance
Michelson–Morley experiment
relativistic electrodynamics
resultType null result
supportsTheory special relativity
testedHypothesis existence of luminiferous aether
motion through aether produces observable electromagnetic effects
usedApparatus charged parallel-plate capacitor
suspension system to detect torque
year 1903

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Referenced by (9)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Michelson–Morley experiment relatedTo Trouton–Noble experiment
Trouton–Noble experiment alsoKnownAs Trouton–Noble experiment
this entity surface form: Trouton and Noble experiment
Frederick Thomas Trouton knownFor Trouton–Noble experiment
Frederick Thomas Trouton notableWork Trouton–Noble experiment
Frederick Thomas Trouton notableExperiment Trouton–Noble experiment
Frederick Thomas Trouton notableConcept Trouton–Noble experiment
this entity surface form: Trouton–Noble paradox
H. R. Noble knownFor Trouton–Noble experiment
H. R. Noble coConducted Trouton–Noble experiment
H. R. Noble notableWork Trouton–Noble experiment