Photon Rest Mass: Understand 4 Momentum & Mass

In summary, photon rest mass is the theoretical mass that a photon would have if it were at rest, but since photons always travel at the speed of light, they do not have a rest mass. This is related to momentum and mass because even though photons do not have a rest mass, they do have momentum and energy due to their wave-like properties and speed. All photons have the same mass of zero and understanding this concept is important for understanding light and its behavior, as well as its implications in quantum mechanics and cosmology. Regular mass and photon rest mass are different because regular mass refers to the amount of matter in an object while photon rest mass is a theoretical concept for a particle with no rest mass.
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smk222
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i read some where that four momentum of photon is null vector that's why photon have zero rest mass.but i cannot get it.please help
 
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1. What is photon rest mass?

Photon rest mass refers to the theoretical mass that a photon would have if it were at rest. However, since photons always travel at the speed of light, they do not have a rest mass.

2. How does this relate to momentum and mass?

Even though photons do not have a rest mass, they do have momentum and energy. This is due to their wave-like properties and the fact that they travel at the speed of light. The equation E=mc² shows the relationship between energy, mass, and the speed of light.

3. Can photons have different masses?

No, all photons have the same mass of zero. This is because they all travel at the speed of light, which is a universal constant. Therefore, the equation E=mc² only applies to particles with a rest mass.

4. Why is it important to understand photon rest mass?

Understanding photon rest mass is important for many reasons. It helps us better understand the properties of light and how it behaves. It also has implications in fields such as quantum mechanics and cosmology.

5. How is the concept of photon rest mass different from regular mass?

Regular mass refers to the amount of matter in an object, while photon rest mass is a theoretical concept for a particle that does not have a rest mass. Additionally, regular mass can be measured and has inertia, while photon rest mass cannot be measured and does not have inertia.

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