Are light and time somehow intertwined?

[Jaami M.]

I'm wondering if time and light(entire spectrum) can only coexist simotanuously. When we look out into the cosmos and see stars they can be many light years away. Because it takes time for light to travel. That may have not been relevant. But what I'm saying is... Time is manipulated by the curvature of space time, and the faster you travel to the speed of light your time is manipulated. So does time and light have a relation? Are they completed coherent of each other, needing one another to co-exist?

 

[BvU]

Well, light travels at 299792458 m/s exactly. It has to, because photons are massless (well, that's taking some liberty). The statement brings in space too. I have a hard time () imagining one of the three missing. But it's an odd triangle with time and space intertwined and light kind of linking the two.

Time isn't manipulated the way you describe: you don't notice that. What you do notice it that time seems to go slower for things/frames of reference that move relative to you.

 

[bcrowell]

You may find this helpful: https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...-than-the-speed-of-light.478783/#post-3174586

The c in special relativity should not be thought of as the speed of light.

So does time and light have a relation? Are they completed coherent of each other, needing one another to co-exist?

No. Light depends on relativity, but relativity does not depend on light. Relativity would have exactly the same structure if light didn't exist.

 

[Legolaz]

You may find this helpful: https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...-than-the-speed-of-light.478783/#post-3174586

The c in special relativity should not be thought of as the speed of light.
No. Light depends on relativity, but relativity does not depend on light. Relativity would have exactly the same structure if light didn't exist.

I agree. But, is there anything which qualifies to substitute light for the c-constant? I am hopefully thinking there is.

 

[Drakkith]

I agree. But, is there anything which qualifies to substitute light for the c-constant? I am hopefully thinking there is.

Not really. Nothing else freely travels vast distances at c other than light.

 

[bcrowell]

Not really. Nothing else freely travels vast distances at c other than light.

Gravitational waves.

 

[Drakkith]

Gravitational waves.

Ah yes, I forgot about those.