Graduate Why is the speed of light restricted?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The speed of light is restricted to approximately 299,792 kilometers per second due to the principles outlined in Einstein's special theory of relativity. Photons, despite having no mass, are bound by the fabric of spacetime, which dictates that nothing can exceed this universal speed limit. Initially, the concept of gravity traveling faster than light was not considered because the graviton, a theoretical particle mediating gravitational force, had not yet been proposed.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Einstein's special theory of relativity
  • Basic knowledge of photon properties and behavior
  • Familiarity with concepts of mass and energy in physics
  • Awareness of theoretical physics terminology, including "graviton"
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of Einstein's special theory of relativity on modern physics
  • Study the properties and behaviors of photons in quantum mechanics
  • Explore the concept of gravitons and their role in gravitational theory
  • Investigate the relationship between mass, energy, and the speed of light
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of theoretical physics, and anyone interested in the fundamental principles governing light and gravity.

jamesb-uk
Messages
69
Reaction score
0
I have two questions here:
1. As photons have no mass, why does light have a limited speed?
2. When the special theory of relativity was created, why did people not think that gravity could travel faster than the speed of light, as they (presumably) hadn't come up with the idea of the graviton then?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Sorry, I didn't realize there was another thread here asking the same question.
 

Similar threads

High School Let me ask a thing about the Speed of Light
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School c^2 in Einstein‘s theory of relativity
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
High School Why is the constant speed of light so unique?
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
1K
Undergrad A question about the speed of light and electromagnetism
  • · Replies 51 ·
2
Replies
51
Views
4K
Undergrad The invariance of the speed of light is not only a hypothesis?
  • · Replies 57 ·
2
Replies
57
Views
6K
Undergrad Has anyone measured the speed of light in one direction?
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
6K
Undergrad Speed of light one more time
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Undergrad Conventionality of the One-Way Speed of Light
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
High School Why is it impossible to go faster than the speed of light?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
4K
Undergrad Distance between two light pulses
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K