Basic question about the nature of light and time

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the feasibility of recording the progression of light using a high-speed camera capable of capturing nearly infinite frames per second. It concludes that while one can capture the effects of light reflecting off surfaces, the speed of light remains constant and cannot be altered by the observer's processing capabilities. The conversation highlights that even if subjective time perception changes, the measured speed of light remains invariant, adhering to the principles of physics. Additionally, the concept of "slow light" is clarified as a phenomenon resulting from absorption and re-emission in specific materials, rather than a change in the fundamental speed of light.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the speed of light and its invariance in physics
  • Familiarity with high-speed camera technology
  • Basic knowledge of light reflection and absorption
  • Concept of subjective time perception and its implications
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of light reflection and how it interacts with different surfaces
  • Explore high-speed camera specifications and their capabilities in scientific applications
  • Investigate the phenomenon of "slow light" and its implications in quantum physics
  • Study the relationship between time perception and physical measurements in relativity
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, optical engineers, and anyone interested in the nature of light and its interaction with time and perception.

ZirkMan
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Imagine you have a high-speed camera with a capability to record almost near infinite frames per second. Would you be in principle able to record progression of light (I know that light itself is invisible so at least its reflected progression let's say off a room's walls after a light bulb has been lit).

If yes. I would like to know if it is possible to see its progression to be slowed down even for an observer who would have the mental capacity to process that many frames per second of information that would allow him to react to its progression? Wouldn't this violate the law that "all observers see the light moving with the same speed"?
The deeper question behind therefore is if the speed of light is also not depended on our mental capacity of how quickly we can process our input information? With speeds of regular objects this seems to be the case where with the higher frequency of input information processing the time seems to slow down and we are able to see objects moving slower or at least react on them as if they effectively were.
 
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The shutter of the camera can't move faster than the speed of light even in principle ;).
 
Eynstone said:
The shutter of the camera can't move faster than the speed of light even in principle ;).
That's OK. I don't want to see the light stop, just to see it slow down a bit on the recording.
 
ZirkMan said:
Imagine you have a high-speed camera with a capability to record almost near infinite frames per second. Would you be in principle able to record progression of light (I know that light itself is invisible so at least its reflected progression let's say off a room's walls after a light bulb has been lit).
No.

Think about it: what if not light itself does a camera record?
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_light" .
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Silly me. I didn't realize that velocity V=(Δd)/(Δt) so even when you make time run subjectively slower a second will remain a second even when it will last subjectively longer. Therefore the measured velocity will be the same for both types of consciousness.

Btw, the slow light would't help much because as far as I know its slower group speed is caused by its absorption and consequent re-emission as this is the way light moves in those materials.
 

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