If light only travels through space and not time then does light even exist in its own reference frame?

Question

According to Einstein's relativity, light only travels through space, not time, so a watch riding on a light wave would never change time (never increase in time). If this is true, then the time light is emitted (born) would be the same time light is absorbed (no longer in existence) in the reference frame of the light. So if light is emitted and absorbed at the same time, then could it have existed at all (in its own reference frame). Also, wouldn't this mean that light travels all distances instantaneously in its own reference frame? Please set me straight if I am not understanding this concept correctly.

Answer 1

One of the stranger implications of special relativity is that time elapses more slowly for bodies in motion -- that is to say, time dilates as bodies approach the speed of light. But let's be clear: the time dilation of everyday motion is so infinitesimal as to be practically zero. You'd have to approach 90% the speed of light -- 269,813 km/s -- in order to see considerable time dilation. At the terminal end of this seemingly asymptotically limit, however, is the speed of light itself, and here and here only does time cease to pass. This means that light particles are no older than they were at t=0 ,i.e., the Big Bang -- light is, quite literally, ageless.

Why then, does this seem so counter-intuitive with our everyday experience? Actually, you struck the tip of the answer in posing your question. It has to do with your frame of reference.

Usually when it comes to reference frames of time and motion, determining what's relatively stationary and what's relatively moving for most real-world problems is extremely challenging. The really nice thing about light itself is that EVERYTHING is relatively stationary to it -- that is, no matter how fast you're going, light will ALWAYS register at the same speed, 299,792 km/s -- no matter what. As bizarre as it sounds, this iron constancy is a blessing when it comes your question. Consider, for a moment, the difference in time dilation for you and the light particles streaming from your computer display right now. From your reference frame, the particles seem to traverse time and space, yet for the particle itself only space is apparent, since time itself ceases to pass, and thus effectively ceases to exist (some physicists have even suggested that this further implies that light exists outside the realm of time altogether).

{Here I should insert the technical note that because time and space are not separate entities but are in fact unified within the space-time continuum, the speed of light is actually a closed proportion involving motion through three spatial dimensions and one time dimension. The motion of most matter is significantly diverted through this latter time dimension and thus, unlike light itself, cannot exist exclusively in space itself. If this is all too confusing at this point, don't worry. Few have been able to fully wrap their heads around the enigmas of modern physics, and I certainly don't count myself among these lucky few.}

So in short, yes: from its own frame of reference, light knows only space and for itself would seem to be everywhere at once. The American physicist Richard Feynman actually explored this idea of infinite paths and his subsequent theory of involving these so-called path integrals has since been experimentally verified countless times. As Feynman himself quipped: "The theory of quantum electrodynamics describes Nature as absurd from the point of view of common sense. And it fully agrees with experiment. So I hope you can accept Nature as She is - absurd."

Answer 2

you are correct in all of your ideas.

the problem is, "time" is a human convention.

it is meaningless to "visualize" being light or traveling at that speed.

this is why no matter can travel at the speed of light.

it makes no rational sense but all experiment point to this conclusion !

you will have to accept it on scientific faith i guess !

Answer 3

I think that you got it wrong.
Light can travel only in the direction of the "arrow of time".

meaning, in space light can move in any direction.
bt light cannot travel backwards in time, so it travels nly in one direction.

Answer 4

It's called RELATIVITY.......
We never know what is the speed of light in regards to whatever object.
It's also a theory.

Answer 5

think of you and that i are enjoying tennis (we will overlook approximately wind or something like that), we are able to play completely oftentimes the regulations of action paintings completely properly. Now we could think of we are on the starship enterprise shifting at 0.9c, enjoying tennis interior the shipment carry. can we detect tennis balls flying in direction of us at purely approximately the fee of light? No, we are able to play the activity precisely the comparable as we did on the earth by way of fact we and the balls are shifting with the Earth, or with the deliver. we are all interior the comparable reference physique. the assumption of relativity says that no reference physique is extra effective than the different for measuring the regulations of action. there is no absolute observer. they are invariable. What Einstein did grew to become into enhance this and say the regulations of PHYSICS are invariable. that is no longer purely the regulations of action yet all different regulations of physics too that are actually not based on your reference physique, they paintings purely the comparable in any reference physique. this suggests we could constantly agree on the fee of light, whether we are in distinctive reference frames. If we could agree on velocity, we could disagree on distance and time. it incredibly is actual somewhat basic in case you settle for that area and time are unified into area-time. while you're table sure, you're making use of all your...i don't be responsive to we could call it attempt, to return and forth via time, at a million 2nd consistent with 2nd. yet once you initiate shifting, you're making use of a few of that to return and forth via area. the speedier you return and forth via area, the slower you return and forth via time, however the mixture constantly provides as much as a hundred%. area and time are relative, yet area-time is absolute. This ensures that your reference physique in no longer area or time on their own yet in area-time, is invariable with understand to gentle. you quite often degree the comparable velocity for gentle.