Mass Increase When Light Speed Increases: Einstein's Theory

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SUMMARY

Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity establishes that as an object's speed approaches the speed of light, its mass increases. Recent experiments have demonstrated that light can be manipulated to exceed its standard speed of 299,792,458 m/s by utilizing specific mediums with varying refractive indices. Researchers at Harvard achieved this by exploiting the properties of these mediums, leading to the conclusion that while light can be made to appear faster, it does not truly exceed the universal speed limit. The energy involved in these experiments primarily contributes to the increase in speed rather than mass increase of the photons.

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  • Understanding of Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity
  • Knowledge of the speed of light and its significance in physics
  • Familiarity with refractive index and its effects on light propagation
  • Basic principles of photon behavior in different mediums
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  • Research the implications of Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity on modern physics
  • Explore advanced concepts in optics, particularly the role of refractive index
  • Investigate experimental methods for manipulating light speed
  • Learn about the properties of photons and their behavior in various mediums
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Physicists, optical engineers, and students of advanced physics interested in the manipulation of light and the implications of relativistic effects on mass and speed.

Phyzwizz
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Through Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity it is known that as the speed of something approaches that of light its mass will increase.
In the lab scientists have sped light up past the speed of about 299 792 458 m / s (Light's normal speed). Since light is allowed to go beyond that which is the speed limit for all other things and seemingly has no resistance does all the energy go into the increase in speed or is some of it siphoned off for some reason and made to increase the mass of the photons?
 
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So light, in fact, has not been made to move faster than light and what the researchers did (I think it was at Harvard) was to take advantage of the medium's refractive index? How disappointing.
 

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