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TerranIV
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I was just curious if there were any known (theoretical) particles with zero inertial mass that don't travel at light speed. Is this even possible?
No.TerranIV said:Is this even possible?
Orodruin said:No.
TerranIV said:Do we know why having 0 inertial mass causes particles to HAVE to travel at c?
For all particles that don't exist, it is vacuously true that they travel at ##c##.PAllen said:As a funny exception, one can have energy, momentum, and mass all be zero. Then velocity is not necessarily c. It is undefined. One may describe this as saying that a massless particle that doesn't exist, need not travel at c.
So now. . . it's fun and games in the relativity forum. .PeterDonis said:Thread moved to relativity forum.
The theory behind particles with zero inertial mass traveling faster than light is based on the concept of tachyons. Tachyons are hypothetical particles that have an imaginary mass and can travel faster than the speed of light. According to the theory of special relativity, particles with mass cannot reach or exceed the speed of light. However, tachyons are not bound by this limitation and can travel faster than light.
As of now, there are no known real-world examples of particles with zero inertial mass traveling faster than light. The existence of tachyons is still a subject of debate and has not been proven by any scientific experiments. However, some theories in quantum mechanics and string theory suggest the possibility of tachyons.
If proven to exist, particles with zero inertial mass traveling faster than light would challenge our current understanding of the laws of physics. It would also have significant implications for time travel and the concept of causality. Additionally, the existence of tachyons could potentially open up new possibilities for space travel and communication.
As tachyons are hypothetical particles, they have not been detected or observed in any scientific experiments. However, some scientists have proposed methods for detecting tachyons, such as using specialized detectors or observing their effects on other particles. These methods are still theoretical and have not been tested.
Since tachyons are purely theoretical at this point, there are no known dangers or risks associated with them. However, if they do exist, their properties and effects on the universe would need to be carefully studied and understood to avoid any potential risks or consequences.