Photon Mass: Exploring the Possibility

In summary, They say photons move in the velocity nearly equal to light... but if a body approaches the speed of light, the mass increases. If you think of photons as packets of energy, E=mc^2, then it makes sense that energy should have mass.
  • #1
Mr.Socrates
7
0
They Say Photons Move In The Velocity Nearly Equal To Light ...
If A Body Approaches Velocity Of Light The Mass Increases ...

If U Think The Photons As Packets Of Energy Then E=mc^2 Or
E/c^2 Is M Then... Will Energy Should Have Mass...
 
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  • #2
Mr.Socrates said:
They Say Photons Move In The Velocity Nearly Equal To Light ...
"They" should say that photons, being light, move exactly at the speed of light.

If A Body Approaches Velocity Of Light The Mass Increases ...
That is one way of looking at massive particles (particles with a non-zero rest mass). But it doesn't apply to photons, which have zero rest mass.
If U Think The Photons As Packets Of Energy Then E=mc^2 Or
E/c^2 Is M Then... Will Energy Should Have Mass...
A better formula to use is this:
[tex]E^2 = p^2 c^2 + m^2 c^4[/tex], where "m" is the rest mass of the particle (which is zero for a photon) and "p" is its momentum.
 
  • #3
then what do u think is momentum related with ... i think there is a small conection with mass... photon whose " rest mass " is only 0 not the mass when it moves... so the momentum should vary in each case where the velocity varies like in refraction...
+
 
  • #4
The momentum of a photon is related to its energy. (E = pc)

Note: The effective (group) velocity of light varies during refraction, but not the photon speed.
 
  • #5
ok if the group velocity changes won't there be a change in phase velocity with some uncertainity... if the v changes the p changes.. what will be the velocity change in the relativistic frame of referance and if so there is a v change it is approaching c so what will happen to mass
 
  • #6
Anything that moves at the speed of light has no point-mass, so it is always in motion so it cannot have mass. Even if it had a tiny-tiny-tiny amount of mass, with the speed of light multiplied to it it would be gigantic.

Sorry Doc, Didn't see your explanation.
 
  • #7
Has anybody noticed that Socrates posts with all words capitalized, or all lower-case?
 
  • #8
Photons are actually just light. Photon is a model, a short name for the fact that light has quanta of energy that sometimes show particle like beahvior on interaction with matter.

They are not separate particles that happen to travel at the speed of light.

Good observation, Mk!

http://www.geocities.com/physics_all"
 
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1. What is photon mass?

Photon mass refers to the hypothetical existence of a mass for photons, which are particles of light. According to the standard model of particle physics, photons are believed to be massless particles.

2. How is the possibility of photon mass being explored?

Scientists are exploring the possibility of photon mass through various experiments and observations. These include studying the effects of gravitational fields on light, searching for deviations from the behavior of massless photons, and investigating theories that suggest the existence of a photon mass.

3. Why is the idea of photon mass significant?

If photons were found to have mass, it would have significant implications for our understanding of the universe. It could potentially challenge the standard model of particle physics and provide new insights into the nature of light and its interactions with matter and energy.

4. What evidence supports the existence of photon mass?

Currently, there is no direct evidence for the existence of a photon mass. However, some theories and observations, such as the behavior of light in gravitational fields and the possible violation of the conservation of energy in certain experiments, suggest the possibility of a non-zero photon mass.

5. What are some potential consequences of discovering photon mass?

If photon mass is confirmed, it could have a significant impact on our understanding of the universe, including the dynamics of the early universe, the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and the behavior of light in extreme environments. It could also lead to the development of new technologies and advancements in fields such as quantum mechanics and astrophysics.

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