Why do photons have no rest mass and cannot have a charge?

malawi_glenn · Jun 17, 2009

gonegahgah said:

My understanding was that - light traveling @ <c through materials due to photon absorption/re-emission - was not the accepted explanation.
I saw someone say this same explanation without comment another time so I'm starting to wonder if I got that wrong too?
I thought it was due to other factors? Was it something to do with space-time or was it magnetic interaction? I can't remember? Or is absorption/re-emission it?

The speed of light is determined by the permittivity and permeability of a material.

gonegahgah · Jun 17, 2009

Thanks malawi. Hopefully that will put the 'absorption/re-emission' idea to rest.

Why do photons have no rest mass and cannot have a charge?

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