The discussion centers around the concept of whether light can accelerate when changing direction, particularly in relation to its behavior in different media and reference frames. Participants explore theoretical implications, thought experiments, and the nature of light's speed in various contexts.
Participants express differing views on whether light can be said to accelerate when changing direction, with no consensus reached on the implications of light's behavior in various media or reference frames.
The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of light's speed in different contexts and the effects of reference frames, which remain unresolved. The implications of coordinate acceleration are also noted but not fully explored.
In vacuum.Lunct said:I know that light is always at constant speed
I guess you can call that acceleration, yes.Lunct said:but does it ever accelerate when changing direction, if you put light through lots of different densities it curves into the Brachistochrone curve, would that be an instance of light acceleration.
In a rotating reference frame light does accelerate in a vacuumLunct said:I know that light is always at constant speed but does it ever accelerate when changing direction, if you put light through lots of different densities it curves into the Brachistochrone curve, would that be an instance of light acceleration.
Coordinate acceleration ... You might as well say it does not have constant speed.Dale said:In a rotating reference frame light does accelerate in a vacuum
YesOrodruin said:Coordinate acceleration ... You might as well say it does not have constant speed.
Lunct said:I know that light is always at constant speed but does it ever accelerate when changing direction, if you put light through lots of different densities it curves into the Brachistochrone curve, would that be an instance of light acceleration.