pnazari said:So then if the photon is just energy traveling at c, and since energy and matter are interchangeablethen why is it that matter can't travel at c?
pnazari said:If I understand what you said previously, it is because the photon has zero rest mass?
Yes. Photons have energy E = hf. A photon has zero proper mass m0 (aka "rest mass") but a non-zero inertial mass m = p/v = p/c = E/c2. If you'd like to then you can think of light as carrying mass with it.pnazari said:Ok I have some general questions about mass and energy. I was wondering if photons have any energy themselves? And if they do, why is it that energy can travel at the speed of light but mass can not (ie, if they are interchangeable why can't mass travel at light speed). Thanks for your time.
The relationship between mass and energy is described by Albert Einstein's famous equation, E=mc^2. This equation states that mass and energy are two forms of the same thing and can be converted into each other. In other words, mass can be converted into energy and vice versa.
A photon is the smallest unit of light and is considered a particle of energy. It has no mass and travels at the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second in a vacuum. Photons are responsible for all electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, radio waves, and x-rays.
The speed of light, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second, is determined by the laws of physics and is considered a constant in the universe. It is the fastest speed at which anything can travel, and nothing can exceed or even reach this speed. It is determined by the properties of space and time.
Light travels through space as both a wave and a particle. As a wave, it has properties such as frequency and wavelength, which determine its color and energy. As a particle, it is made up of photons that travel in a straight line until they are absorbed or reflected by an object. The speed of light allows it to travel vast distances through space, making it an essential tool in studying the universe.
According to the theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. This is because as an object approaches the speed of light, its mass and energy increase infinitely, making it impossible to reach or exceed the speed of light. Some theories suggest that wormholes or other phenomena may allow for faster-than-light travel, but these are still hypothetical and have not been proven.