All Problems

Optics of Moving Sources

Problem 5.224

In the Fizeau experiment on measurement of the velocity of light the distance between the gear wheel and the mirror is ll =7.0 km,=7.0 \mathrm{~km}, the number of teeth is z=720.z=720 . Two successive disappear- ances of light are observed at the following rotation velocities of the wheel: n1=283n_{1}=283 rps and n2=313n_{2}=313 rps. Find the velocity of light.

Reveal Answer
c=2lz(n2n1)=3.0108 m/sc=2 l z\left(n_{2}-n_{1}\right)=3.0 \cdot 10^{8} \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}