The Speed of Light changing through the Space

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the perception of light and its speed, challenging the conventional understanding that light travels at a constant speed of 3 x 10^8 m/sec. The author proposes that what we perceive as the speed of light may actually be a reaction between atoms, suggesting that photons result from atomic interactions rather than light traveling through space. This perspective implies that the distance light travels, or a 'light year', is influenced by the energy density of the medium it traverses, thus altering our understanding of space-time dynamics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly light and energy.
  • Familiarity with the theory of relativity and space-time.
  • Knowledge of atomic interactions and photon behavior.
  • Awareness of perception theories and their implications in scientific understanding.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of atomic interactions on light perception.
  • Study Einstein's theory of relativity and its relation to space-time curvature.
  • Explore the concept of energy density and its effects on light propagation.
  • Investigate alternative theories of light behavior beyond the standard model.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, science educators, and anyone interested in advanced concepts of light, perception, and the nature of reality in the context of modern physics.

Daminc
Messages
39
Reaction score
0
Right, third time lucky.

Here's something I wrote for a friend of mine after we had a discussion about perception.

I wonder if any of you chaps would care to have a read of it (primarely the theory within the first third of the document) and make free with your comments
 

Attachments

Science news on Phys.org
Ok, perhaps it might be easier to get some comments by posting the first part of the document.
Light is often perceived as traveling at a constant speed of ‘c’. The key word here is ‘perceived’. We, as a race, have found many different ways to perceive reality as we know it. Primarily through the visible spectrum we also use radio waves, x-rays, microwaves, telescopes, microscopes and many other visual aides in order to understand the Universe in which we live in.

Most people have selective perception. Culture, media and selective evidence all limit our perception in one form or another. Scientific marvels are ignored because they are now commonplace and any unexplained or rare phenomena are classified as supernatural or a miracle. There are huge benefits on “standing on the giants before us” when it comes to analysing the data we perceive but we risk limiting our vision to what we believe to be true and with a less than objective state of mind which is essential if we want to find a ‘Truth’.

Light is a primary example of this ‘selective perception’. We have been told that light travels at 3*10^8 m/sec and go “wow, that’s fast” and believe it. I can think of at least one example that would meet the requirements of the evidence we have collated so far and, compared with a lot of people, I’m not that smart. The basic principle of Newton’s cradle could produce the illusion that light actually travels; but suppose light doesn’t travel at all? Suppose that what we perceive as light travelling, is actually a reaction between individual atoms at a rate of 3*10^8 m/sec; and that the photons are a result of that reaction? We would still see light ‘travelling’ at the same speed but for an entirely different reason.

If one was to visualise space/time as a three-dimensional matrix of cubes that have the same parameters within a frame of zero energy and accept that mass, or a collection of energy, will distort that matrix it will also be possible to see that the distance between to points in space time will depend almost entirely on the amount of energy between those two points. Hence to calculate a ‘light year’ as a distance light would travel in one solar year, the distance would not only depend on the ‘speed of light’ but the medium through which the light would travel. An area with a high concentration of energy (such as a star) would constrict the virtual cubes into a far smaller shape, at the same time stretching the cubes surrounding that area. The actual distance would remain the same, but the relative distance would shorten or lengthen depending on the density of that energy.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 48 ·
2
Replies
48
Views
7K
Replies
60
Views
5K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
6K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
17K
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
7K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K