I read somewhere that time does not pass for photons as they are travelling at the speed of light. So, although they may have travelled for a million years across space, as far as the photon is concerned no time has passed. How does that work then? Are there any interesting implications of this? Many thanks
2006-10-08 03:07:30 · 7 answers · asked by amania_r 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
What would the world look like in the reference frame of a photon? What does a photon experience? Does space contract to two dimensions at the speed of light? Does time stop for a photon?. . . It is really not possible to make sense of such questions and any attempt to do so is bound to lead to paradoxes. There are no inertial reference frames in which the photon is at rest so it is hopeless to try to imagine what it would be like in one. Photons do not have experiences. There is no sense in saying that time stops when you go at the speed of light. This is not a failing of the theory of relativity. There are no inconsistencies revealed by these questions. They just don't make sense.
2006-10-08 03:13:09 · answer #1 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to Albert, the speed of light is the fastest an object my travel before it turns into pure energy. At this point, its theorized that time ceases to exist but, If you were a photon traveling at the speed of light and had a flashlight turned on in hand, its light would still be travelling away from you at the speed of light! I personally dont believe that light is the ultimate speed limit because it still takes a certain amount of time for light to travel from one point to another!
2006-10-08 10:16:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Lorentz transformation equations are derived from Einsteins 3 postulates of special relativity theory. Parts of these postulates are supported by physical experiments, however other parts remain mathematical theory.
Light remains a poorly understood paradox.
I've been considering and trying to describe this paradox for nearly 20 years, and am not really surprised to see some of my own phraseology in your question, although that could just as easily be coincidence.
One implication of this is the entire universe is actually made of a single "particle" of light, and time itself is a consequence of that particle having mass, and being unable to exist in the same space at the same time. Since it is already in all space it has but one option, to exist in another time "next to itself". This gives us the perception of motion, and the illusion of separate bodies. If you think about it, this would explain numerous other paradoxes as well.
Whoever you are, don't stop thinking about this. The biggest break-throughs in our understanding of the truth about the physical universe are within these questions. Love ya'.
2006-10-08 10:50:33 · answer #3 · answered by water boy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you read a load of crap.
Time has to pass for anything, no matter what speed it is travelling at.
Photons won't know about this passing of time, but then again photons don't have sentience so don't know about time no matter what speed they are going at.
2006-10-08 10:10:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting. Why don't the photons explode due to gravity increasing to infinite pressure at the speed of light?
2006-10-08 10:11:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
speed of light is 3 x 10 raised to 8 m/s
2006-10-08 10:13:13 · answer #6 · answered by disha 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, there are.
Time is actually almost irrelevant for subatomic particles. They can travel forward or backward in time ad lib; in almost every case the laws of physics pertaining to time are completely reversible.
2006-10-08 10:10:00 · answer #7 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋