The Master of Light

The Master of Light is a documentary on the life and scientific career of Albert A. Michelson (1852-1931), the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Physics. His experiments made major contributions to our understanding of the fundamental properties of light.

In 1877, at age 26, using an apparatus he built for little more than $10, Michelson gained an international reputation for his accurate measurement of the velocity of light.

The Master of Light takes the viewer through a period of scientific history when the spirit of invention and experimentation revealed new physical laws that no longer conformed to Newton’s classical notions of the universe. Michelson himself triggered a chain of advances in physics which helped to unravel and unify often opposing theories. His work laid the groundwork for Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, as well as contemporary explorations of outer space and atomic energy.

Michelson's experiments and theories, including the famous Michelson-Morley experiment, are clearly explained in the film through narrative and animation.

The film also explores the personal side of Michelson’s life, notably his talents as a painter and a violinist. For Michelson, art and science were inseparable. Narrated in part by his daughter, The Master of Light includes newsreel film footage of Michelson and his experiments, as well as rare photos and his artistic renderings.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

Short Films
The DVD includes contemporary physicists and authors Saul Perlmutter (2011 Nobel Prize winner in Physics), Joel R. Primack, and Nancy Abrams on:

Michleson-Morley Experiment’s Impact on Einstein
Interferometer: Dual Nature of Light
The Accelerating Universe
The Mystery, The Experiment
Three Types of Experiments
An Artist in Science

Resource Guide
Extensive additional materials on the DVD-ROM portion of the disc, including:

Michelson’s hand-written field notes on Velocity of Light
Simple experiment to discover the speed of light
Links to information and museums featuring Michelson
Articles and current information about the expanding universe

Preview link available upon request. Contact support@videoproject for more information

A film by Robert Michelson and Steve Michelson

26 Minutes + Special Features

Grades 7 - Adult

Item #: MAS-983

The Master of Light is a documentary on the life and scientific career of Albert A. Michelson (1852-1931), the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Starting at $39

Licensing Options

Public Library (circulation only-no PPR) - $39 K-12 Schools, Public Libraries, Community Groups - $79 K-12 DVD + Digital File - $129 Colleges, Businesses, Other Institutions - $199 Colleges (DVD with Digital Site License) - $249 K-12 School District pricing available. Please inquire at [email protected]

Reviews and Festivals

"A great addition to any video library. There is a dearth of videos on many of the great, though perhaps lesser known, scientists, especially in the modern physical sciences. There is much more to this DVD than the film, giving it that extra quality teachers and students alike will find appealing."
— NSTA Recommends (National Science Teachers Association)

“Recommended. In an unusual interplay of cinematic techniques, the production employs animation to clarify the theories behind Michelson’s experiments.”
— Booklist

WINNER
CINE Golden Eagle
National Educational Film Festival, Honorable Mention

“I always think of Michelson as the artist in science. His greatest joy seemed to come from the experiment itself and the elegance of the method employed. But he has also shown an extraordinary understanding for the baffling fundamental questions of physics.”
— Albert Einstein

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Simple Nature

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The Master of Light

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