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johne1618
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If a photon is detected at point B having been emitted at point A, can one deduce with near certainty that it must have traveled continuously in a straight line from A to B at velocity c?
johne1618 said:If a photon is detected at point B having been emitted at point A, can one deduce with near certainty that it must have traveled continuously in a straight line from A to B at velocity c?
Yes, photons always travel in straight lines. As particles of light, photons follow the laws of physics and maintain a constant speed in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.
Yes, photons can bend or change direction when they encounter a medium with a different refractive index. This is known as refraction and is responsible for the bending of light in lenses and prisms.
No, photons do not slow down. As massless particles, they always travel at the speed of light, which is a constant value in a vacuum. However, when they enter a medium with a higher refractive index, they can appear to slow down due to the increased number of interactions with other particles.
Photons travel through space as electromagnetic waves. These waves have both electric and magnetic fields that oscillate perpendicular to each other, creating a self-sustaining wave that propagates through space. This wave-like nature enables photons to travel in straight lines.
Yes, photons can travel through objects, depending on the material and its properties. Some materials, such as glass, allow photons to pass through relatively unimpeded, while other materials, such as metal, may absorb or reflect photons. This is due to the interactions between photons and the particles in the material.