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 \(l\) \(=7.0 \mathrm{~km},\) the number of teeth is \(z=720 .\) Two successive disappear- ances of light are observed at the following rotation velocities of the wheel: \(n_{1}=283\) rps and \(n_{2}=313\) 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}