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I'm trying to do the Lorentz contraction calculation for the MM experiment. My problem is in determining the velocity of the apparatus. Is it just the tangential velocity at the earth's surface due to rotation or do I have to add the velocity of the earth going around the sun or also include the velocities of the solar system as well? What reference frame is used for the Lorentz contraction calculation? I'm confused because there is no relative motion between the observer and apparatus. Could you help me with this?

If I recall correctly, the original MM idea was to determine if the motion of the earth, relative to the presumably stationary aether, made any difference in the transit time of the light beams. The motion of the entire solar system, and the galaxy, etc., would be common features to any such measurement, and could thus be ignored.

I'm assuming, as Physicist said, that the Lorentz contraction can be measured from the MM experiment. I'm having trouble with the v/c term. What v do I use? Are you saying v is zero? If it's zero, then where is the contraction? There's no relative motion between the light source, apparatus and observer. What is the causitive agent of the contraction?