Is There a Limit to the Speed of Energy Transfer?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether there is a limit to the speed of energy transfer, particularly in the context of physics theories such as Quantum Mechanics and Special/General Relativity. Participants explore the implications of these theories on energy transfer rates and the nature of energy itself.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that energy transfer cannot exceed the speed of light, referencing Quantum Field Theory where particles are constrained to this speed.
  • One participant suggests that while information can travel faster than light through entangled quantum states, energy transfer remains distinct and likely adheres to the speed of light limit.
  • Another participant notes that infrared radiation, a form of electromagnetic radiation, travels at the speed of light, reinforcing the idea that this is the maximum speed for energy transfer.
  • Questions are raised about how to quantify the number of photons involved in energy transfer and how this relates to the speed of transfer.
  • There is a discussion on the distinction between quantization of energy and the speed of travel, with references to historical perspectives in Classical Physics and their evolution into Quantum Physics.
  • A hypothetical scenario is posed regarding the continuous energy transfer between two particles, questioning if there is a limit to the transfer rate in such a case.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the speed of light is a significant limit for energy transfer, but there is no consensus on the implications of quantum mechanics or the specifics of quantizing energy transfer. Multiple competing views remain regarding the nature of energy transfer and its limitations.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the relationship between energy and information, the role of quantum states, and the foundational principles of Special and General Relativity, which remain unresolved.

darkar
Messages
187
Reaction score
0
How fast can energy be transfered? Is there a limit to it? Is it the speed of light? Any prove?
 
Science news on Phys.org
darkar said:
How fast can energy be transfered? Is there a limit to it? Is it the speed of light? Any prove?

I don't believe that there is a way to transfer energy faster than the speed of light, even in Quantum Mechanics. The most sophisticated model of energy transfer I can think of is in Quantum Field Theory, where the energy transfer would have to take place via an interaction field, which is quantized as particles. The particles would be constrained to move at the speed of light, or less.

I suppose there may be a way to use "entangled" quantum states to transfer energy, as I don't know many details of it. I know that information can "travel" faster than the speed of light in this case, but information and energy are different beasts.

-Dan
 
Infrared radiation (heat) from the sun is an electromagnetic radiation like visible light. That is as fast as you can get.

Zz.
 
How can we limit the rate of energy transfer to the speed of light. I understand that that is the time taken to transfer a photon from somewhere. But how can we quantise the number of photons of energy transferred.
 
vaishakh said:
How can we limit the rate of energy transfer to the speed of light. I understand that that is the time taken to transfer a photon from somewhere. But how can we quantise the number of photons of energy transferred.

Quantization and speed of travel are different things. The limit on the speed of travel comes from Special/General Relativity. In the Classical Physics of the 17 and 1800s, much of the energy transfer phenomena were attributed to wave motion or flows of some kind. In the Quantum Physics we usually consider the energy transfer to be due to some kind of field that permeates space. We can quantize these fields, that is we consider the smallest possible "packets" of energy (spin, angular momentum, etc.) that can transfer between one point and another. We admittedly force the issue of the speed of light as being the fastest possible transfer speed by taking Special and/or General Relativity to be one of our postulates when we construct a Quantum Field Theory, but we'd know if we were wrong to do so because then the theory wouldn't test right.

-Dan
 
Okay, another question. Let say one particle A transfer energy to other particle B, which is close to each other. And now particle B transfer energy back to particle A, and this process keep being continue. Is there a limit on how fast the transfer rate is?
 

Similar threads

Graduate Can Heat Transfer Through Conduction Occur at Relativistic Speeds?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Energy transfer water > air in a greenhouse
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
936
Undergrad How fast does an aircraft need to fly before it starts to glow?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
Undergrad A System is the transfer of energy between two mediums?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Graduate Practical use of an overall heat transfer coefficient?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
High School Basic thermal energy transfer physics: Insulation value in open airways vs sealed airways
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
853
High School How does mass influence energy transfer?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
High School What is Energy? A Clear Definition and Explanation
  • · Replies 43 ·
2
Replies
43
Views
5K
Undergrad HVAC dehumidifier energy wastage
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Undergrad What is the Role of Convective Heat Transfer in Cavitation of Cryogenic Fluids?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K