The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Non Life Sciences
  3. Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology
  4. Is there energy in a photon?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Is there energy in a photon?

  • 12 Replies
  • 6892 Views
  • 3 Tags

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline EvaH (OP)

  • Global Moderator
  • Sr. Member
  • ********
  • 271
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 3 times
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
Is there energy in a photon?
« on: 20/12/2018 11:26:29 »
Gaither wants to know:

If E = M C squared, and a photon has zero mass, then E = 0....., then how/why is there energy in a photon?

Can you help?
Logged
 



Offline Kryptid

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 8082
  • Activity:
    1.5%
  • Thanked: 514 times
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #1 on: 20/12/2018 15:08:32 »
Photons don't have a rest mass, but they do have a relativistic mass that is produced by their energy.
Logged
 

Offline PmbPhy

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 3902
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 126 times
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #2 on: 20/12/2018 15:55:18 »
Quote from: EvaH on 20/12/2018 11:26:29
Gaither wants to know:

If E = M C squared, and a photon has zero mass, then E = 0....., then how/why is there energy in a photon?

Can you help?
Its better to say that a photon has energy rather than it has energy inside of it because there is no "inside" a photon.

The E = mc^2 that you're referring to is what I call inertial energy and the m is called inertial (aka relativistic) mass. This mass is defined so that mv is a conserved momentum, where mv momentum. If the particle in question travels less than the speed of light then m is a function of speed. If m = 0 but p does not equal zero then E = pc and there for since p = mc when put into E = pc gives E = mc^2.
Logged
 

Offline Janus

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 951
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 268 times
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #3 on: 20/12/2018 16:01:12 »
Quote from: EvaH on 20/12/2018 11:26:29
Gaither wants to know:

If E = M C squared, and a photon has zero mass, then E = 0....., then how/why is there energy in a photon?

Can you help?
E=mc^2 is a special case for the more general equation E^2 = sqrt(p^2c^2+m^2c^4)

It only gives the energy equivalence for the rest mass of something.  As pointed out, light has zero rest mass, so for it, the equation simplifies to E=pc, where p stands for the momentum of the photon. And for a photon, p = h/L, with h being Planck's constant an L being the wavelength.
Note that while in Newtonian physics, p=mv, and relies on m, this is not strictly the case with Relativity.  This type of thing can be a stumbling block for people when they first try to understand Relativity,  They try to carry over concepts directly from Newtonian Physics that don't remain the same under Relativity.
Logged
 

Offline PmbPhy

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 3902
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 126 times
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #4 on: 20/12/2018 16:24:52 »
Quote from: Janus on 20/12/2018 16:01:12
Quote from: EvaH on 20/12/2018 11:26:29
Gaither wants to know:

If E = M C squared, and a photon has zero mass, then E = 0....., then how/why is there energy in a photon?

Can you help?
E=mc^2 is a special case for the more general equation E^2 = sqrt(p^2c^2+m^2c^4)

It only gives the energy equivalence for the rest mass of something.  As pointed out, light has zero rest mass, so for it, the equation simplifies to E=pc, where p stands for the momentum of the photon. And for a photon, p = h/L, with h being Planck's constant an L being the wavelength.
Note that while in Newtonian physics, p=mv, and relies on m, this is not strictly the case with Relativity.  This type of thing can be a stumbling block for people when they first try to understand Relativity,  They try to carry over concepts directly from Newtonian Physics that don't remain the same under Relativity.
I disagree. I myself never mistake. Those who learn SR learn what E = mc^2 means. Also p = mv works when m is relativistic mass. Also F = dP/dt is also holds as does E = K + U. Newton's first and second law remain unchanged. His 3rd law works with all contact forces (note that in Newtonian physics the 3rd law doesn't always hold). The only thing that changes is the transformation from one inertial system to another.

As you know, there are two definitions of m. One is proper mass (aka relativistic mass) and one is inertial mass (aka proper mass). Over half of my SR texts use relativistic mass, most of which are recent publications such as Special Relativity by Farook Rahaman, Springer, page 106. Currently there is an entire lab in Harvard's course called Relativistic Mass where they measure it. The lecture notes by Alan Guth for his early universe course where he explains that light has mass where he's referring to the relativistic mass.

See - http://www.newenglandphysics.org/other/guth.jpg

where he explains that light has mass where he's referring to the relativistic mass.
« Last Edit: 20/12/2018 17:07:44 by PmbPhy »
Logged
 



Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 21155
  • Activity:
    73.5%
  • Thanked: 60 times
  • Life is too short for instant coffee
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #5 on: 20/12/2018 16:53:01 »
Quote from: PmbPhy on 20/12/2018 16:24:52
there are two definitions of m. One is proper mass (aka relativistic mass) and one is inertial mass (aka proper mass).

Pete: would you care to review that statement? Or does it hide some deeper truth? It looks as though you have said

A=B, C=A, but C≠B!
Logged
Helping stem the tide of ignorance
 

Offline PmbPhy

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 3902
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 126 times
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #6 on: 20/12/2018 17:10:54 »
Quote from: alancalverd on 20/12/2018 16:53:01
Quote from: PmbPhy on 20/12/2018 16:24:52
there are two definitions of m. One is proper mass (aka relativistic mass) and one is inertial mass (aka proper mass).

Pete: would you care to review that statement? Or does it hide some deeper truth? It looks as though you have said

A=B, C=A, but C≠B!

What I said is correct. Some physicists use relativistic mass and use the letter m whereas others use proper mass and also label it m. As I'm sure you know there has been a heated debate about this.
Logged
 

Offline chiralSPO

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 3743
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 531 times
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #7 on: 20/12/2018 19:30:47 »
Quote from: PmbPhy on 20/12/2018 17:10:54
Quote from: alancalverd on 20/12/2018 16:53:01
Quote from: PmbPhy on 20/12/2018 16:24:52
there are two definitions of m. One is proper mass (aka relativistic mass) and one is inertial mass (aka proper mass).

Pete: would you care to review that statement? Or does it hide some deeper truth? It looks as though you have said

A=B, C=A, but C≠B!

What I said is correct. Some physicists use relativistic mass and use the letter m whereas others use proper mass and also label it m. As I'm sure you know there has been a heated debate about this.

Is proper mass the same as inertial mass or relativistic mass?
Logged
 

Offline PmbPhy

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 3902
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 126 times
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #8 on: 20/12/2018 20:16:08 »
Quote from: chiralSPO
Is proper mass the same as inertial mass or relativistic mass?
Relativistic mass.
Logged
 



Offline jeffreyH

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6996
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 192 times
  • The graviton sucks
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #9 on: 20/12/2018 22:03:10 »
Proper or invariant mass.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invariant_mass
Logged
Even the most obstinately ignorant cannot avoid learning when in an environment that educates.
 

Offline yor_on

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 81532
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 178 times
  • (Ah, yes:) *a table is always good to hide under*
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #10 on: 28/12/2018 17:52:22 »
Two choices
Energy is mass

No it isn't

Photons are 'quanta' of energy. Do they then have a mass?

They have a momentum, a 'birth' and a 'assimilation'
And a energy

In a 'field' they are 'excitations' of it.

On their own they don't have a defined propagation. Unless you believe in 'indirect evidence'
But that's a simplification
Logged
URGENT:  Naked Scientists website is under threat.    https://www.thenakedscientists.com/sos-cambridge-university-killing-dr-chris

"BOMB DISPOSAL EXPERT. If you see me running, try to keep up."
 

Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 21155
  • Activity:
    73.5%
  • Thanked: 60 times
  • Life is too short for instant coffee
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #11 on: 28/12/2018 22:41:09 »
Here's the simple answer to the original question. Is there energy in a photon? Is there chocolate in a chocolate button? It's a quantum. Different makes of chocolate buttons are different sizes, but each is a quantum of chocolate.

Come to think of it, every coin is a quantum of money.
Logged
Helping stem the tide of ignorance
 

Offline yor_on

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 81532
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 178 times
  • (Ah, yes:) *a table is always good to hide under*
Re: Is there energy in a photon?
« Reply #12 on: 31/12/2018 04:45:18 »
at they say when I ask for my tax return.

"Can you quantify that Sir?"
Logged
URGENT:  Naked Scientists website is under threat.    https://www.thenakedscientists.com/sos-cambridge-university-killing-dr-chris

"BOMB DISPOSAL EXPERT. If you see me running, try to keep up."
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags: photon  / energy  / e=mc squared 
 
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 1.614 seconds with 60 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.