Is it possible that light has an undetectable mass?

Question

that would explain some things.

Answer 1

No, not if General Relativity is true.

E=mc^2 does not apply to massless particles, as it applies ONLY to particles AT REST - light always travels at lightspeed.

E=pc for massless particles.

E=sqrt((mc^2)^2+(pc)^2)) for moving massive particles.

Don't listen to anyone that says E=mc^2 means photons have mass!

Answer 2

yes it's possible but because it's undetectable it doesn't really do much for us. There is what's called the duality principle (I think) that basically says light can be treated as particles of infinitesemal mass as well as waves. They also can treat matter in the same way. Thank Einstein for that brain bender...but yes it would be possible under that it has an extremely small but non zero mass.

Answer 3

According to Albert, if light had mass (at the speed light travels), its mass would be infinate. Observation deems this not very likely. On the other hand, if its rest mass is zero, it can't have any energy according to E=MC2 and observation deems this equally unlikely. If it's energy were to be converted to rest mass, it would no longer be light - nor would it be racing along at speeds approaching those of light. It seems the only solution to this apparent contradiction is that all of light's mass must be in the form of energy. Given that energy and mass are the same entity in different forms, it seems that light must be the purest form of energy i.e. all of its mass is in the form of energy. Very interesting question.....exercise for the brain.

Answer 4

Mass is composed of electromagnetic energy. This is evidenced when a high energy photon moves near the center of an atom and converts into negative and positive electrons.

When electrons are formed of electromagnetic energy, they are still electromagnetic energy, but in a different form - water to ice kind of a thing. The electron offers Resistance to movement, and comes under the laws of mass (subject to laws of physical time, and occupies three dimensions). Multiples of electrons form neutrons and protons.

Lastly, during a nuclear explosion, the initial burst of energy is that of radiant energy. It was there all along, just in a different state.

Answer 5

No, because then it could not ttravel at the speed of light. As a particle approaches the speed of light the mass become infinite. In the whole universe mass there is no infinite mass. Therefore, particles cannot travel at the speed of light.

Answer 6

it depends on what you mean by mass, as energy is the same as mass-that is it has some of the same effects of mass.
I think what your asking is, does light have mass as in like and objects mass, the answer is no, if you go along with einstein theory of general relativity, objects that exist as only energy can only travel at the speed of light, anything that has "mass" can never reach the speed of light.

Answer 7

Light is composed of photons and as a particle has mass and therefore would be detectable, even though it is infinitely minute. We know that black holes attract light, therefore there is a mass, and thus it is measurable.

Answer 8

That is an interesting thought.... I guess it could be possible. Does light actually take up any physical space? If it does then it probably has mass.

Answer 9

Light does have moving mass ... there called photons ... they dont shoot through the air but the generate a light path/wave

Answer 10

yes
photons, i think, have a very very small mass because if they didn't, they wouldn't be attracted to black holes

i also thing that all particles have mass. Light, according to modern physics, is a particle