photons have no rest mass
they do carry momentum, but not mass
2006-07-09 00:02:55
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answer #1
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answered by Epidavros 4
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The concept of a photon comes from quantum physics which breaks down the makeup of matter/engergy into discreet packages called quanta. The word photon relates to light when it is observed as consisting of discreet particles rather than waves that travel through space.
A photon of light is release when electrons in an atom fall from a higher energy state (or electron cloud shell), to a lower energy state. The wavelength of light, and therefore the color of light, released is directly proportional to this drop of electrons from a higher to lower energy state.
Neon lights are a perfect example of this. An electrical current is applied to a gas made of atoms which are succeptible to this type of excitement. Because of the nature of the atom cloud structure around the nuclues of the Neon atom (protons/neutrons), it release a specific color of light (wavelength) as the electrons are constantly excited, and then drop to lower energy states, release a photon of light, then are excited again.
Note that the theory that light consists as discreet photons, instead of waves, can be used to study it's effects on matellic surfaces, or study how photo-voltaic cells work, for example.
Light IS a wave, but the theory of quantum physics, and thus the concept of the photon, very conveniently solves light-matter interaction problems that wave theory could never successfully explain.
2006-07-09 00:16:23
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answer #2
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answered by Steve T 1
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Photons have not have been given any mass. First Rule: No merchandise with mass can attain the cost of light. partly because of the fact it may acquire countless relativistic mass and hence choose countless capability to get there. yet additionally, that's impossible to advance up something to the cost of light even devoid of mass because of the fact, in a nutshell, acceleration starts off out as increasing speed and finally will become time dilation, such that a relative speed of the cost of light between 2 gadgets can on no account be performed by way of acceleration. for this reason... Rule 2: gadgets devoid of mass can purely commute on the cost of light. they are able to't advance as much as the cost of light (see above) they should promptly flow faraway from their source on the cost of light - and it is not often you are able to say "promptly" devoid of it being an exaggeration. gentle won't have mass besides the fact that it does have capability. extremely confusingly the call given to the capability is momentum yet particularly it fairly is basically scientists attempting to confuse all of us because of the fact it is not something to do with the often happening momentum. The capability is related to the frequency of the sunshine. this actual capability of each photon is why it the two passes by using, is meditated or is absorbed by way of extremely some gadgets. As for gravity, no person is yet particularly particular what is going on there. the main suitable type has it pegged as a fictitious rigidity generated by way of the presence of mass bending area-time yet why it is going to try this, no person is acquainted with and additionally they do no longer comprehend what mass particularly is the two. maximum scientists assume there to be a quantum / particle explanation at last.
2016-12-14 05:50:08
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answer #3
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answered by ? 3
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Because their mass is so little that even its so hard to measure so they don't effect so much earths mass as a result its better question to ask about the mass of meteors that crush the earth .Because meteors have greater mass then millions of photons :)
2006-07-09 00:12:08
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answer #4
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answered by Idontspeakanymore 2
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Photons have no mass. They are 'packets' of energy. The energy is absorbed into the Earth, then emitted in different forms.
2006-07-09 00:43:17
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answer #5
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answered by tgypoi 5
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Photons have no mass. To travel at the speed of light, it is a necessity to have no mass. If something does have mass, as minute as it could possibly be, then it would be impossible for this particle to travel at the speed of light.
2006-07-09 00:13:28
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answer #6
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answered by micron816 4
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The total energy of earth increases day by day
2006-07-09 02:29:11
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answer #7
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answered by Pearlsawme 7
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