A Puzzling Paradox: Can Light Reach Infinite Velocity?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the paradox of whether light can be said to reach infinite velocity, particularly in the context of time dilation and the speed of light. Participants explore the implications of light traveling at the speed of light and the concept of time stopping for objects at that speed.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about the implications of reaching the speed of light, questioning how time can stop for something moving at that speed and what that means for light itself.
  • Another participant states that the concept of proper time is irrelevant to light, as photons do not have a rest frame and do not experience time in a conventional sense.
  • A similar point is reiterated by another participant, emphasizing that while time may stop for light, this does not imply infinite speed from an external observer's perspective.
  • One participant suggests that light experiences the universe instantaneously from its own frame of reference, although this is noted as a potentially misleading analogy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the notion that light does not experience time, but there is disagreement on how to interpret the implications of this for the concept of velocity and the experience of photons.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that discussing the experiences of photons or frames of reference at the speed of light can lead to confusion and may not adhere to conventional physics principles.

Paindealer
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Don't get this...

OK, I know it is impossible to reach the speed of light, but, yeah, so, ummm...

If one could reach the speed of light time stopps,but then light always travels at the speed of light. If time stops for something at the speed of light, then wouldn't it stop for light, maaking light go a distance over 0 time, giving it infinite velocity? Even though it is like 300,000,000m/s and that is a big number, it isn't infinite so how can time come to a complete stop if one was to reach the speed of light?

I don't get that so someone please inject some brains into my ears so I will understand that lol.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The proper time concept is really irrelevant to light because it is the time experienced in a rest frame and light has no rest frame. The photon just doesn't experience time; a photon that left a distant galaxy a billion years ago, by OUR time, and just now entered your retina has not experienced any time at all on its flight. Not even, really, zero time.
 
Paindealer said:
OK, I know it is impossible to reach the speed of light, but, yeah, so, ummm...

If one could reach the speed of light time stopps,but then light always travels at the speed of light. If time stops for something at the speed of light, then wouldn't it stop for light, maaking light go a distance over 0 time, giving it infinite velocity? Even though it is like 300,000,000m/s and that is a big number, it isn't infinite so how can time come to a complete stop if one was to reach the speed of light?

I don't get that so someone please inject some brains into my ears so I will understand that lol.
Try to synchronize a clock comoving with the photon
 
Paindealer said:
If time stops for something at the speed of light, then wouldn't it stop for light, maaking light go a distance over 0 time, giving it infinite velocity?
Yes, you could say that.

But time stopping for the light doesn't mean an infinite speed from an external observer's point of view, it means infinite from an internal observer's point of view.

Light (photons) do not experience time at all. They "see" the entire universe in one instant - as if they really are traveling at infinite speed - in their own frame of reference, that is.


(Caveat: as many posts are likely about to tell you, it is meaningless to speak about photons "seeing" anything, or even a frame of reference moving at c. This is true, but as a fellow layperson, I understand how it can help to loosen the rules to make a leap of understanding. Keep in mind though, that faulty analogies (such as mine, and the clock Bernhard mentions) will eventually steer you awry.)
 

Similar threads

High School Why does it require an infinite amount of energy to reach the speed of light?
  • · Replies 130 ·
5
Replies
130
Views
17K
High School Let me ask a thing about the Speed of Light
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School Energy, Mass, Speed of Light: Can We Reach It?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Undergrad Understanding Spacetime simultaneity in twin paradox scenarios
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
High School Einstein thought experiment confusion: “light clock in a moving frame”
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
High School Thought Experiment : Try and get Alice to "0%" the Speed of light
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Undergrad Has anyone measured the speed of light in one direction?
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
7K
Undergrad How Does the Twin Paradox Apply to Light and Sound Waves?
  • · Replies 48 ·
2
Replies
48
Views
7K
High School Theories about light and time near a black hole
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
High School Why is it impossible to go faster than the speed of light?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K