A New Lab for Measuring the Speed of Light
Kasey Wagoner, Richard Soden
TL;DR
This paper presents an accessible laboratory experiment for students to measure the speed of light, demonstrating the fundamental link between electricity, magnetism, and light using familiar equipment.
Contribution
It introduces a practical, student-friendly lab setup to empirically measure the speed of light, bridging theoretical electromagnetism and hands-on experimentation.
Findings
Successful measurement of the speed of light using common lab equipment
Demonstration of the connection between electromagnetism and light
Educational value in linking theory with practical measurement
Abstract
A typical introductory treatment of electromagnetism culminates with the investigation of Maxwell's equations, showing the beautiful connection between the concepts covered in the many prior weeks. The lab described here is an experimental counterpart, providing a way to measure the connection between electricity, magnetism, and the speed of light. This is done using equipment that students have (likely) already explored in the lab and class.
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Taxonomy
TopicsExperimental and Theoretical Physics Studies · Experimental Learning in Engineering