How long can a light ray travel

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    Light Ray Travel
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SUMMARY

Light rays can theoretically travel indefinitely in a vacuum without losing energy unless they interact with other particles. However, phenomena such as gravitational redshift and cosmological expansion can cause light to lose energy over time, resulting in a shift from visible light to longer wavelengths like microwaves or radio waves. Despite this energy loss, light continues to propagate through the universe, with some rays currently observed having traveled for approximately 13 billion years.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of photon behavior in physics
  • Knowledge of gravitational redshift
  • Familiarity with cosmological expansion concepts
  • Basic principles of light propagation in a vacuum
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  • Research gravitational redshift and its implications on light energy
  • Explore cosmological expansion and its effects on light wavelengths
  • Study the behavior of photons in different mediums
  • Investigate the observable universe and the significance of light travel time
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Astronomy enthusiasts, physicists, and anyone interested in the fundamental properties of light and its behavior across vast distances in the universe.

bleachigo
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I was wondering and have looked for a while on the internet to find out, in the end i found this site so i made an account.

Can anyone tell me if light rays from stars fade out over time or if they travel for an infinite amount of time. Incase I am not clear enough, I am asking if light rays lose energy as they travel and so does that mean that there is a limit to how far a light ray can travel, or can it go on forever
 
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If there is nothing in its way to absorb a photon, it will travel forever.
 
The only way it will lose energy is interaction with other particles.

So it can travel in a vacuum indefinitely.

Jim
 
Not quite true. Gravitational redshift and redshift due to cosmological expansion will cause it to lose energy.

Losing energy means it is redshifted; a photons in the visible light spectrum might redshift down to microwave mengths or radio lengths.

However, this, in itself, will not end or impede its travel though the universe cause it to get lost. It is possible in theory for it to travel forever, redshifting as it goes.

We are currently observing light rays that have been traveling for 13 billion years.
 
thanks guys been helpful
 

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