Does time stop for photons?

[johnfp]

If indeed time stops for anything traveling at the speed of light does time stop for the photon traveling through space? If so, is it possible that every photon in the universe is actually one omni-present photon just altering it's "being' based on all information it gets all at one time in the whole universe and then, as time stops for it, it has the ability to act on every piece of information and gather all the next information in an instant, ready to repeat this cycle in every slice of time?

[InfiniteNow]

Hi John,

Welcome to Hypography.

That's a very good question, indeed. In fact, it's one I asked myself about two years ago.

The thread below is where I received my answers. Check it out. It has many posts, but the basic summary is:

If a photon had a valid reference frame, then it would be everywhere all at once, and the concept of time would be meaningless.

However, the photon itself is not a valid reference frame.


My summary here really doesn't do your question justice, though, so please review the thread I linked below. If once you've worked your way through you still have questions, then don't hesitate to ask. There are many people here with a passion for sharing knowledge that I'm sure would not mind helping.


http://hypography.com/forums/astrono...e-no-time.html


Enjoy.

[snoopy]

Originally Posted by johnfp

If indeed time stops for anything traveling at the speed of light does time stop for the photon traveling through space? If so, is it possible that every photon in the universe is actually one omni-present photon just altering it's "being' based on all information it gets all at one time in the whole universe and then, as time stops for it, it has the ability to act on every piece of information and gather all the next information in an instant, ready to repeat this cycle in every slice of time?

Time does not stop for the photon the photon simply experiences no time but its Energy and momentum are related by the equation

E= cp

where p is the magnitude of momentum and c is the speed of light.

It has no 'being' in the spiritual sense of things.

It has no ability to act on information.

Peace

[johnfp]

Ok, thank you for the replys.

InfiniteNow, great thread link for gaining knowledge without having to rehash the whole thing again in this thread. Thank you!

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by johnfp

InfiniteNow, great thread link for gaining knowledge without having to rehash the whole thing again in this thread. Thank you!

I'm glad it helped. Like I said, if you do have any questions, make sure you ask them. You're probably not the only one with that same question.


It'd probably be best to ask any new questions in this thread, the one you've started. That other one got really side tracked on tangents, and it would probably be more clear if new questions were given a clean slate here.


Cheers.