Is there any limit on how far light can travel -in a vaccuum that is.

In summary, there is no limit on how far light can travel in a vacuum. It does not age as it travels and we have detected photons emitted 380,000 years after the Big Bang. While there is no limit, some predictions suggest that certain parts of the universe may become inaccessible due to space expansion. However, there is no evidence that the wavelength of light changes with time.
  • #1
Tregg Smith
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Is there any limit on how far light can travel -in a vacuum that is.
 
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  • #2
Hi Tregg! :wink:
Tregg Smith said:
Is there any limit on how far light can travel -in a vacuum that is.

Short answer: No. :smile:
 
  • #3


No, light does not 'age' as it travels through the vacuum. We routinely detect photons emitted 380,000 years after the big bang [the CMBR].
 
  • #4


Although there's no limit on the distance that light can travel, if some of the Dark Energy predictions are correct and space expansion is accelerating, there's a hypothetical stage where some parts of the universe are inaccessible from others-- Like the 'event horizon' of a black hole...
 
  • #5


If light traveled for an infinite amount of time then would the wavelength not become infinite so that eventually you would need an infinite amount of time to "see" it?
 
  • #6


No, there is no reason to think that the wavelength changes with time either.
 

Related to Is there any limit on how far light can travel -in a vaccuum that is.

1. What is the speed of light in a vacuum?

The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (or about 670,616,629 miles per hour).

2. Is there any limit on how far light can travel in a vacuum?

According to the theory of relativity, there is no limit on how far light can travel in a vacuum. It can theoretically travel an infinite distance.

3. How does light travel in a vacuum?

Light travels in a vacuum as a wave, with an electric field and a magnetic field oscillating perpendicular to each other and to the direction of travel.

4. Can light travel in a vacuum forever?

Yes, light can travel in a vacuum forever unless it is absorbed or scattered by particles in the vacuum.

5. Is the speed of light constant in a vacuum?

Yes, according to the theory of relativity, the speed of light is constant in all inertial reference frames, including a vacuum.

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