Special Theory of Relativity Is Also Failed to Explain Null Result of Michelson and Morley Experiment

Michelson and Morley conducted an experiment in the year 1887 to measure the speed of earth in luminiferous aether. In this experiment Michelson’s interferometer was used in which two waves are superimposed to generate interference fringes. Keeping in view known velocity of earth around the sun a fringe shift of 0.44 fringe was expected on the rotation of interferometer at an angle of 900, but surprisingly no fringe shift was observed. The experiment was conducted so many times and at so many places but always null results were obtained. The null result of MMX could not be explained by classical mechanics. A number of explanations for null results were submitted but no one was found to be correct. George Fitzerald and Hendrick Lorentz proposed length contraction hypothesis in the direction of motion of earth, but it was also rejected being an adhoc hypothesis. Albert Einstein submitted his famous theory “The special theory of relativity” in the year 1905. The second postulate of the STR states that speed of light is constant in all directions of inertial frames of reference irrespective of motion of source of light or the observer and states that no luminiferous aether exist as a medium, light waves do not require any medium to propagate. As light travels with constant velocity in both the arms of interferometer irrespective of motion of interferometer and there involves no time difference between the two rays hence null results of MMX were explained by special theory of relativity. Michelson and Morley experiment is based on the wave nature of light. In such experiments wavefront of light plays very important role but behaviour of wavefront of light was not taken into consideration while deriving the time taken by the light rays in the arms of interferometer due to motion of earth resulting into wrong derivation of time. The present article describes the principle and realization of role of wavefront of light in MMX. The time taken by light rays in the arms of the interferometer due to motion of earth depends upon the behaviour of wavefront of light. It has been established by results of Fizeau experiment and steller aberration of light that speed of light is not effected by velocity of moving medium. The derivation of time has been worked out keeping in view constancy of speed of light, wavefront of light and laws of reflection of light according to Huygen’s principle. Contrary to earlier beliefs the Lorentz length contraction hypothesis is not able to explain the null results of MMX. In the light of new facts it is established that there is no difference between theorectical results derived by classical mechanics and special theory of relativity. Special theory of relativity is also failed to explain the null result of MMX. The null result of Michelson and Morley experiment has again become a perplexing question for physicists.