MadSci Network: Physics |
I am asking a question on the Fizeau’s experiment for measuring the speed of light. The diagram of this experiment can be found at the following webpage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_light Please look at it before answering my question. Assume that the speed of light is infinity. Fizeau’s experiment proves that it is finite. I am saying, no, his experiment does not prove that. Here are my arguments: When the light hits the eye or the detector, we see from the figure that an open slot is in front of the detector. But at the same time an open slot is also in front of the light source. So I can say that the speed of light is infinity and what you see is the source light, reflected through the mirror instantly. What Fizeau is calming, apparently is the following: The light you are seeing is the light that passed through the previous open slot in front of the source and it came back after reflection when that open slot came in from of the detector. He is saying this has happened because the light was blocked by a tooth at one time. I am saying when light was blocked no light passed. The one that went through the previous slot vanished because it has infinite speed. What you are seeing is the one that is passing now through both open slots. This is because the speed is infinity. My argument seems to be correct. Where is the fallacy?
Re: Speed of light finite or infinite?
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