After his first attempt to determine the speed of light (described in Exercise 18), Michelson conducted an improved experiment. In 1897 he reported results of 100 trials with a mean of 852.4 and a standard deviation of 79.0.
a) What is the standard error of the mean for these data?
b) Without computing it, how would you expect a 95% confidence interval for the second experiment to differ from the confidence interval for the first? Note at least three specific reasons why they might differ, and indicate the ways in which these differences would change the interval.
c) According to Stigler (who reports these values), the true speed of light is 299,710.5 km/sec, corresponding to a value of 710.5 for Michelson s 1897 measurements. What does this indicate about Michelson s two experiments? Explain, using your confidence interval.