Guided by similar motivations as his former partner, Foucault in 1850 was more interested in settling the particle-versus-wave debate than in determining an accurate absolute value for the speed of light.
Având motivații similare cu fostul lui partener, Foucault era în 1850 mai interesat de soluționarea disputei particulă-contra-undă decât de determinarea exactă a valorii absolute a vitezei luminii.