Can a photon arrive before an observer traveling at the same speed?

[_PJ_]

I am curious as to how a photon traveling at 'c' is described by an observer also traveling at 'c'.

Elementary education tells us that photons, always travel at the same average speed in the same medium, regardless of the motion of the observer.
However, if both were traveling at 'c', from point A to B, could the observed photon cannot arrive at B before the observer? I don't think it should, because then it would indicate that information could be transmitted to B faster than light.

My only 'solution' to this comes from the lorenz contractions of time seem to suggest that in a photon's lifetime, from its own 'experience' the entire distance traveled on its journey (including A and B) are contracted as though it travels no distance at all. The observer in the example above, would also be subect to these contractions. Therefore traveling 0 distance at ANY speed would always take the same time (also 0 )

How accurate is this hypothesis? Am I missing something or confused somewhere?

 

[Hootenanny]

An observer cannot travel at c. More specifically, we cannot define an inertial frame traveling at c relative to another inertia frame. Therefore, your question is moot.

 

[_PJ_]

Thanks for the response. The impracticalities of massive ojects moving at 'c' aside, I was merely curious as to the 'what if' scenario.
Your statement regarding inertial frames, though, I think is more crucial and certainly would nullify the possibility of being able to provide a real answer. This helps a lot, because it ironically does answer te problem by highlighting its impossibility!

 

[Bob_for_short]

An observer cannot travel at c. More specifically, we cannot define an inertial frame traveling at c relative to another inertia frame. Therefore, your question is moot.

Yes, it can travel at c or faster if c means the light velocity v in a transparent medium. In a transparent medium the light velocity v is smaller than c but particle velocity V can be equal or exceed v. In the latter case the particle arrives earlier than the light. Remember the Cherenkov's effect for charged particles.

 

[Hootenanny]

Yes, it can travel at c or faster of c means the light velocity v in a transparent medium. In a transparent medium the light velocity v is smaller than c but particle velocity can be equal or exceed v. In the latter case the particle arrives earlier than the light. Remember the Cherenkov's effect for charged particles.

What do you mean when you say "it"? Are you saying that you can define an inertial reference frame with a velocity v > c as measured from the lab frame?

You should note that the OP specifically mentions observers traveling at c, rather than observers traveling faster than light. If the OP would have stated the latter, then of course it would be appropriate to discuss Chenkerov radiation. However, since the question was related to the former, Chenkerov is irrelevant here.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Thanks for the response. The impracticalities of massive ojects moving at 'c' aside, I was merely curious as to the 'what if' scenario.

Basically, you are saying "If relativity were NOT true, what would it say about this situation"! And the answer, of course, it that if it were NOT true, it would NOT say anything meaningful.

Your statement regarding inertial frames, though, I think is more crucial and certainly would nullify the possibility of being able to provide a real answer. This helps a lot, because it ironically does answer te problem by highlighting its impossibility!