The discussion revolves around the relationship between mass and energy, specifically focusing on photons, their energy, and the implications of their speed. Participants explore the nature of photons, the concept of rest mass versus relativistic mass, and the conditions under which energy and mass can travel at the speed of light.
Participants generally agree that photons have energy and that they travel at the speed of light due to having zero rest mass. However, there remains uncertainty and debate regarding the implications of this relationship for mass and energy interchangeability, particularly concerning why matter cannot travel at light speed.
There are unresolved questions about the definitions of mass and energy, as well as the implications of relativistic mass versus rest mass. The discussion does not reach a consensus on the broader implications of these concepts.
pnazari said:So then if the photon is just energy traveling at c, and since energy and matter are interchangeablethen why is it that matter can't travel at c?
pnazari said:If I understand what you said previously, it is because the photon has zero rest mass?
Yes. Photons have energy E = hf. A photon has zero proper mass m0 (aka "rest mass") but a non-zero inertial mass m = p/v = p/c = E/c2. If you'd like to then you can think of light as carrying mass with it.pnazari said:Ok I have some general questions about mass and energy. I was wondering if photons have any energy themselves? And if they do, why is it that energy can travel at the speed of light but mass can not (ie, if they are interchangeable why can't mass travel at light speed). Thanks for your time.