Measurement of Ether Drift

Measuring ether drift involved experiments to detect Earth's movement through a hypothetical medium called the luminiferous ether, once thought to carry light waves. Scientists used devices like interferometers to compare the speed of light in different directions. If Earth moved through the ether, light's travel time would vary depending on the direction, causing shifts in interference patterns. By observing these shifts at different times and orientations, researchers aimed to detect or rule out the existence of ether drift. Ultimately, experiments like the Michelson-Morley experiment found no measurable ether drift, supporting the idea that light's speed is constant regardless of Earth's motion.