Albert Abraham Michelson Physicist (determined the speed of light), Nobel Prize (1907) Date of Birth: 19.12.1852 Country: USA

Biography of Albert Abraham Michelson

Albert Abraham Michelson was an American physicist, best known for inventing the Michelson interferometer and his precise measurements of the speed of light. He conducted measurements of the speed of light from 1878 to 1882 and from 1924 to 1926, which remained unparalleled in accuracy for a long time.

In 1881, Michelson experimentally proved, and together with Edward W. Morley (1885-1887), confirmed with great precision, the independence of the speed of light from the Earth's motion. These works provided experimental evidence for the special theory of relativity.

Albert Abraham Michelson was born on December 19, 1852, in Strelno, now Stschelno, Poland, and passed away on May 9, 1931, in Pasadena, California. In 1854, he immigrated to the United States with his parents. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1873 and served in the Navy and taught at the Naval Academy from 1873 to 1881.

From 1880 to 1882, Michelson furthered his knowledge by studying at the universities of Berlin, Heidelberg, and Paris. He held various professorships throughout his career, including the School of Applied Sciences in Cleveland from 1883 to 1889, the University of Worcester, Massachusetts from 1889 to 1892, and the University of Chicago from 1892 to 1929. He also served as the President of the National Academy of Sciences from 1923 to 1927.

In addition to his measurements of the speed of light, Michelson conducted other significant experiments. In 1892 to 1893, he used the interferometer he invented to measure the spectral lines of different elements. He proposed using the wavelength of the red line of cadmium as the standard for length. He also constructed a high-resolution spectrometer.

In his later years, Michelson focused on determining the angular diameters of stars and created a stellar interferometer for this purpose. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1907 for his optical instruments and the research conducted with their help.

Albert Abraham Michelson's contributions to the field of physics, particularly in the measurement of the speed of light, have left a lasting impact on scientific understanding. His innovative experiments and inventions have paved the way for advancements in optics and the study of the fundamental properties of light.