Does photon loose energy/mass during travel?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter San K
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Photon Travel
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Photons do not lose energy or mass while traveling through a vacuum, maintaining their speed and energy levels. However, when photons enter different mediums such as the Earth's atmosphere, glass, or water, they experience a reduction in speed due to interactions with the medium, which can be interpreted as a loss of energy. This phenomenon is not due to resistance in the traditional sense but rather the result of the photon being absorbed and re-emitted by the atoms in the medium. The concept of quantization means that photons exist as discrete packets of energy, which cannot be partially absorbed.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of photon behavior in different mediums
  • Knowledge of the principles of light refraction
  • Familiarity with quantum mechanics concepts
  • Basic physics of energy conservation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of light refraction in various materials
  • Study the principles of quantum mechanics related to photons
  • Explore the concept of energy quantization in electromagnetic radiation
  • Investigate the interaction of photons with matter in different states (solid, liquid, gas)
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students studying optics and quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the behavior of light in different environments.

San K
Messages
905
Reaction score
1
Let's say we track a photon... starting from sun and reaching earth.

When the photon moves through space (maybe because there is vacuum) it looses no/little energy. Now... when it enters atmosphere?

When it goes through glass plate? or through ocean or through water vapour? Does it slow down?

Is there not resistance?

however a quanta is the lowest possible energy amount, thus is can only be all or nothing?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=899393&postcount=4
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
878
  • · Replies 81 ·
3
Replies
81
Views
8K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
1K
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
6K