Traveling at Lightspeed - Time Stops

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of traveling at the speed of light and its implications on time perception and reference frames, touching on aspects of relativity and quantum mechanics. Participants explore theoretical scenarios, challenge the validity of such scenarios, and debate the meaning of a "photon's point of view."

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that if an object could travel at the speed of light, time would stop for that object, making the journey seem instantaneous, even over vast distances.
  • Another participant asserts that no object with mass can travel at the speed of light, rendering the initial question meaningless.
  • A participant questions the scenario by asking about the "photon's point of view," prompting a discussion about the validity of such a perspective.
  • Several participants express frustration with the concept of a "photon's point of view," arguing that it is meaningless and that a photon cannot have a frame of reference or observe anything.
  • One participant emphasizes that asking what would happen if one could move at the speed of light contradicts the principles of relativity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the validity of discussing a "photon's point of view," with some asserting it is meaningless while others attempt to explore the implications of such a perspective. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the initial question about traveling at light speed.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference previous discussions on the topic of a photon's perspective, indicating a history of debate around this concept. There are unresolved assumptions regarding the implications of relativity and the nature of time at light speed.

tryceo
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If an object were to travel at the speed of light from Point A to Point B, then wouldn't the speed of light for the person on the object be v = d/0? Because when you travel at the speed of light in space, your time stops. So when the object reaches point B, even if it is 1 billion lightyears away, it would seem instantaneous to the person on board. Then that would mean a part of Quantum Mechanics, where the electrons move from place to place no 0 amount of time, would also apply to this object as well.
 
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No object with mass can travel at the speed of light, so the question is meaningless.
 
Then what if you looked at the photon's point of view?
 
I had to stifle an "AAARRRGGGHHH!" when I saw "photon's point of view" because we have had many discussions here about it. You couldn't be expected to know that, of course, because you're new here, so I'll just link you to a couple of searches for those threads.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=photon+point+of+view+site:physicsforums.com

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=photon+reference+frame+site:physicsforums.com

I'm in the camp that says that it's pretty much meaningless to talk about a "photon's point of view," by the way, but I don't particularly feel like arguing about it.
 
jtbell said:
I had to stifle an "AAARRRGGGHHH!" when I saw "photon's point of view" because we have had many discussions here about it. You couldn't be expected to know that, of course, because you're new here, so I'll just link you to a couple of searches for those threads.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=photon+point+of+view+site:physicsforums.com

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=photon+reference+frame+site:physicsforums.com

I'm in the camp that says that it's pretty much meaningless to talk about a "photon's point of view," by the way, but I don't particularly feel like arguing about it.

Echo 100% of this, including the stifled "ARRGGGHHH".
 
I see absolutely no reason to stifle the ARRGGGHHH! (In fact, I might add a few "R"s, "G"s, and "H"s). Simply put there is no such thing as "the photon's point of view". In a sense, tryceo, you are right- "time stops" at light speed so nothing happens for the photon and it can observe nothing- the photon has NO point of view and there is no such thing as a "frame of reference" at the speed of light. To even ask "what would happen IF you could move at the speed of light?" is to deny relativity. Essentially you are asking, "If relativity were NOT correct, what result would relativity give?" and that is nonsense.
 
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