What would you see if you travel at the speed of light?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter ZapperZ
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around frequently asked questions in physics, particularly focusing on the implications of traveling at the speed of light, as well as other common misconceptions and queries in the field. The scope includes conceptual inquiries, theoretical discussions, and suggestions for managing repetitive topics within the forum.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration over recurring questions in physics, such as whether photons have mass due to their energy, and why electrons do not crash into the nucleus.
  • There is a suggestion to create a sticky thread that compiles commonly asked questions and their answers to streamline discussions and reduce redundancy.
  • Participants mention the "twin paradox" and the double slit experiment as topics that often generate debate.
  • Some contributions highlight the tendency of engineers to declare relativity or quantum mechanics as incorrect, despite their foundational principles being integral to their fields.
  • There is a discussion about the book "The Tao of Physics" and its impact on public understanding of physics, with differing opinions on its value.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for a resource to address frequently asked questions, but there is no consensus on the best approach to implement this or on the validity of certain claims regarding physics concepts.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the potential for misunderstanding complex physics concepts, as well as the challenge of creating a comprehensive resource that accurately reflects the nuances of each topic discussed.

  • #61
The propagation of light in various media also seems to come up frequently. Maybe some of the resident CMP gurus could cover that? Maybe with a brief mention of polaritions since some doubt the abs/re-em.-picture, although with wrong reasons.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #62
inha said:
The propagation of light in various media also seems to come up frequently. Maybe some of the resident CMP gurus could cover that? Maybe with a brief mention of polaritions since some doubt the abs/re-em.-picture, although with wrong reasons.

Would you like to volunteer?

:)

Zz.
 
  • #63
inha said:
The propagation of light in various media also seems to come up frequently. Maybe some of the resident CMP gurus could cover that? Maybe with a brief mention of polaritions since some doubt the abs/re-em.-picture, although with wrong reasons.

Great...You can start writing:wink: :-p

Make sure you incorporate the discussion on the contradiction how light can "slow down" although photons have constant velocity equal to c. I think the analogy with the car (with constant velocity) and the three stopping lights explains this very well.

Good Luck

regards
marlon
 
  • #64
hah, I knew I should have put more emphasis on the word guru. Maybe I'll try to scrape something up.
 
  • #65
Inha,

we are eager to read your contribution to the Physics FAQ... :)

we are veeeery eager...

regards
marlon
 
  • #66
I've noticed in the Astro section an awful lot of questions based upon a misunderstanding of the expansion of the universe.
 
  • #67
Danger said:
I've noticed in the Astro section an awful lot of questions based upon a misunderstanding of the expansion of the universe.

would you like to volunteer Danger ? :)

marlon

ps : let's tackle the questions mentioned in our list first. Perhaps later we can solve the more advanced cosmology questions. Hey, we might even create a cosmology FAQ in the appropriate subforum. But i do think we will be needing people like SpaceTiger, Pervect, Nereid on board...My knowledge of cosmology is both limited and a bit rusty to say the least

:)
 
  • #68
I'm not qualified, Marlon, but otherwise I would. I realize that we weren't planning to add any more right now, but I was worried that I might forget to mention it later. That happens a lot.
 
  • #69
Danger said:
I'm not qualified, Marlon, but otherwise I would. I realize that we weren't planning to add any more right now, but I was worried that I might forget to mention it later. That happens a lot.

Hey Danger, don't be so modest. I have read many of your posts and i liked both the message and the way in which you presented your message. You have a very clear way of writing and that is what we need. So far, i think there are not too many people working on this. So, if you feel like it, i would appreciate the fact that you write an answer to one of these questions. The answers are required to be understandable and , having read your posts, "writing crystal-clearly" is a quality you possess.

In short, please reconsider, please...you can pick any question or add one...:)

regards
marlon
 
  • #70
Once again, Marlon, I think that you overestimate my abilities, but thank you. Okay, I'll take a shot at the hovercraft one.
As for the expansion thing that I mentioned, it would probably be best to just copy one of Space Tiger's beautifully crafted responses on the subject.
So, where do I submit the thing once I get done?
 
  • #71
Danger said:
So, where do I submit the thing once I get done?

You have to mail it to ZapperZ. He handles all texts. I think he gave an email address here in this thread. Otherwise, just PM him to ask it.

Good Luck

regards
marlon
 
  • #72
Thanks. It'll take a while, but I'll do my best.
 
  • #73
There have been no agreement or decision on FAQ's for other forums. I don't moderate them, so it will be presumptious of me to make any decision on those fourms. If you wish, you may contact the Astro Moderators in this matter.

Zz.
 
  • #74
Smurf said:
What would you see if you travel at the speed of light?
Be careful with this one--not such a crazy question. On page 118 of the 1973 book by the late Jacob Bronowski, "The Ascent of Man", you will find a picture of a boy, who asked the following question "What would the world look like if I rode on a beam of light" (Albert Einstein, age fourteen).. As stated by Bronowski, the genius of men like Einstein is that they ask transparent, innocent questions which turn out to have catastrophic answers.
 

Similar threads

High School Would We See the Same Light After Traveling Back to Earth Faster Than Light?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Let me ask a thing about the Speed of Light
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Graduate Speed of Light for Bonnor Beam
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
2K
High School Experience Travel on a Photon: Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Universe
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad What travels faster: visible light in water or X-rays in liquid mercury?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
High School Red shifted tired light doubts
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
High School If light beam travels through a vacuum, then through diamond, then through more vacuum...
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Graduate Focus all of your ire on me, if you would
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
High School Can an Object Exceed the Speed of Light?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Undergrad Effects of time dilation for near-speed-of-light travel
  • · Replies 65 ·
3
Replies
65
Views
12K