The Naked Scientists
Toggle navigation
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
Search
Home
Help
Search
Tags
Recent Topics
Login
Register
Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences
Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology
Why don't photons build up inside boxes?
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Down
Why don't photons build up inside boxes?
0 Replies
2655 Views
0 Tags
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Duncan Amos
Guest
Why don't photons build up inside boxes?
«
on:
11/10/2010 10:30:03 »
Duncan Amos asked the Naked Scientists:
Hi
I failed O-Level Physics at school 40 years ago but I have a few questions that have been bugging me for a few years now:
If a photon is a particle that behaves like a wave (which I think is how it is regarded) then it has mass and should be affected by gravity. If I have a box with an open top and sunlight streaming in then it must be "filling up" to some degree with photons. If I close the lid, what happens to the photons? Logic says that there must be some left in there. Likewise, if the refrigerator light stays on when the door closes then there is a closed box with photons bouncing around like there's no tomorrow - If the bulb fails whilst the door is closed and then I open it, how come I don't skate all over the floor on worn-out photons?
Hoping you can help calm an old man's puzzled brain!
Duncan Amos
What do you think?
«
Last Edit: 11/10/2010 10:30:03 by _system
»
Logged
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Up
« previous
next »
Tags:
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...