Speed Quanta: Is There a Lower Limit?

In summary, the effective "lower limit" for speed will be the uncertainty principle, because of the wave-particle duality.
  • #1
Physonic
5
0
we all know that there is upper limit for speed that is speed of light, but is there a lower limit, I mean is there quanta for speed.
 
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  • #2
There is no quanta for speed.
The effective "lower limit" for speed will be the uncertainty principle, because of the wave-particle duality. The speed of a particle can be arbitrarily close to zero as long as the uncertainty in the position is sufficiently large (i.e. the particle is delocalized).

If a particle is confined to any discrete region of space, there will be a lower limit on its velocity. Hope this helps.
 
  • #3
lzkelley said:
There is no quanta for speed.
The effective "lower limit" for speed will be the uncertainty principle, because of the wave-particle duality. The speed of a particle can be arbitrarily close to zero as long as the uncertainty in the position is sufficiently large (i.e. the particle is delocalized).

If a particle is confined to any discrete region of space, there will be a lower limit on its velocity. Hope this helps.

Thank you that helped.
 
  • #4
No, not at all.

The uncertainty principle applies for dXdP, not dXd(mv) which is a slight difference; in the case of light the uncertainty applies to its wavelength, frequency and energy via the relation P = hf/c where f is the frequency or alternatively, P = h/w where w is the wavelength.

Correct me if I'm wrong but that's how it seems.
 
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  • #5
In the case of light, the lower limit is quite well defined... its still just c. but even in the not photon case, by the deBroglie equation the same relation applies (p=h/L).
dst : your point, thought true, is trivial and semantical. In quantum mechanics there is no way to define an instantaneous (accurate) velocity; however, the concept of spatial motion does apply very closely to momentum --> hence it is the term that we should be looking at, in the "lower limit of velocity."
 

1. What is the concept of "Speed Quanta"?

The concept of "Speed Quanta" refers to the idea that there may be a lower limit to the speed at which particles can travel in the universe. This limit is proposed to be the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second.

2. How does the idea of "Speed Quanta" relate to Einstein's theory of relativity?

Einstein's theory of relativity states that the speed of light is the maximum speed at which any object can travel. This aligns with the concept of "Speed Quanta" as it suggests that there may be a lower limit to the speed of particles, which is the speed of light.

3. Is there any evidence to support the existence of a lower limit on speed?

Currently, there is no direct evidence to support the existence of a lower limit on speed. However, the theory of relativity and other theories in physics suggest that the speed of light is the maximum speed at which particles can travel, which supports the concept of "Speed Quanta".

4. Are there any theories that challenge the concept of "Speed Quanta"?

While the concept of "Speed Quanta" aligns with many established theories in physics, there are some theories, such as loop quantum gravity, that challenge the idea of a lower limit on speed. However, these theories are still being researched and debated within the scientific community.

5. How does the concept of "Speed Quanta" impact our understanding of the universe?

If the concept of "Speed Quanta" is proven to be true, it would have significant implications for our understanding of the universe. It may lead to a better understanding of fundamental physics and could potentially help to reconcile conflicting theories, such as the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.

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