A tabletop experiment for the direct measurement of the speed of light
Abstract
We describe a tabletop experiment for the direct measurement of the speed of light to an accuracy of a few percent. The experiment is accessible to students not majoring in science or engineering. The experiment can include a measurement of the index of refraction of a sample. We discuss the experimental apparatus and safety considerations. The results and limitations of the experiment are analyzed, based partly on our experience in employing the experiment in student laboratories.
- Publication:
-
American Journal of Physics
- Pub Date:
- September 2008
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0705.3996
- Bibcode:
- 2008AmJPh..76..812A
- Keywords:
-
- 01.50.Pa;
- Laboratory experiments and apparatus;
- Physics - Physics Education
- E-Print:
- 4pages, 5figs