Are force carrier particles instantaneous like gravity in relativity?

[cam875]

if particles can transfer force carrier particles to each other to generate forces between them such as quark -gluon exchange, is it an instaneous effect? or is it like gravity in relativity where the effects are not immiediately felt but take time such as for the force carrier particle to travel. I am not sure if that was right though with what I said about relativity (correct if I am wrong) thanks in advance.

 

[DeepThought42]

The current understanding is that no force can travel faster than the speed of light. Even in quantum entanglement this holds and it has passed every test thrown at it over the last 100 years.

 

[Entropia]

This is a very interesting question and the answer is not as straightforward as it may seem. Force carrier particles, such as photons, gluons, and W and Z bosons, are responsible for transmitting forces between particles in the quantum world. These particles do not have mass, which allows them to travel at the speed of light. This is why they are often described as "instantaneous."

However, in the context of relativity, the concept of instantaneous is a bit more complex. In the theory of relativity, space and time are intertwined, and the concept of simultaneity is relative. This means that what may seem instantaneous to one observer may not be instantaneous to another observer moving at a different speed or in a different reference frame.

In terms of the effects of force carrier particles, it is important to consider the distance between the interacting particles. If the distance is small, the effects of the force carrier particle may be observed almost immediately. However, if the distance is large, the effects may take longer to be observed due to the time it takes for the force carrier particle to travel between the particles.

So, in a sense, the effects of force carrier particles can be both instantaneous and not instantaneous, depending on the context. In the quantum world, where distances are very small, the effects may seem instantaneous. But in the macroscopic world, where distances are much larger, the effects may take some time to be observed.

It is also important to note that the concept of force carrier particles is a theoretical construct used to explain the interaction between particles. The exact mechanism and speed of the transfer of forces between particles is still an area of active research and debate in the scientific community. So while we may use the concept of force carrier particles to explain these interactions, the reality may be more complex and nuanced.

In summary, the effects of force carrier particles can be instantaneous in the quantum world, but in the context of relativity and macroscopic distances, the effects may take some time to be observed. However, the exact mechanism and speed of these interactions is still an area of ongoing research and may require further study and refinement.