I understand photon can't be at rest and experementally its value can't be found but theoritically speaking photon is a particle and rest mass is a form of energy called rest mass energy and energy possesed by photon is hv(new) so what will be its rest mass
2006-11-22 18:53:38 · 8 answers · asked by Chan V 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The rest mass of a photon is always zero. In relativistic mechanics, the rest mass is identified with the length of the energy momentum 4 vector [E/c,px,py,pz]. For a particle with a lightlike worldline (such as a photon) the length of this vector is always zero, it's a property of minkowski (or lorentz based-) space-time. This means the photon always has zero rest mass.
Because this is a flat space property it's easily generalised to other coupled fields to describe non-vacuum situations: the result still holds.
maybe the site below will help.
2006-11-22 18:59:48 · answer #1 · answered by ~brigit~ 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The rest-mass equivalent of the photon's energy is h*nu/c^2; that mass can be used to determine the momentum transfer in photon/material interaction and the Newtonian effect of gravity on the photon.
2006-11-22 19:54:58 · answer #2 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Zero. You're correct; a photon only exists when it's travelling at the speed of light. A particle with a finite rest mass would have infinite mass if you could accelerate it to the speed of light. A photon's mass depends on its frequency, so a blue photon has more mass than a red one. It's mass is hf/(c^2), where h is Planck's constant, f is the photon's frequency and c is the speed of light. The only other candidates for particles which travel at the speed of light are neutrinos and gravitons. If they do, then they have zero rest mass too.
2006-11-22 19:02:32 · answer #3 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The rest mass of a Photon is zero.
2006-11-22 19:01:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why dont I Belive you?
you are saying that a photons mass =0
using the formula E=MC^2
where c=0
the logic explanation will be Energy=0 (not mass)
When you try finding mass using E=mc^2 where C=0
then M=e/C^2 =M=E/0 =Infinity
thus you are wrong(sorry but you have not provided proof of that)
even there is experimental proof of photons having mass.
"two vaccum tubes one suddenly exposed to light"
observation: the vaccum tube that is exposed to light increases pressure but at a very slight and 10^-exponensial value.
photon mass at rest =0=false
2006-11-22 23:37:17 · answer #5 · answered by mich01 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Zero. You could calculate an equivalent mass by using E=mc*2, but that is not a rest mass.
2006-11-22 19:13:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Theoretically, photons are massless. They are the energetic equivalent of an electron; that is, they are pure energy only.
2006-11-22 18:58:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I love the PDG!!!
2016-05-22 21:24:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋