How does light stay in motion? Why does it travel at it's speed? Does

In summary, light stays in motion due to Maxwell's equations in free space, which give an electrodynamic wave that travels at the speed of light. In quantum mechanics, light is made up of particles called photons that exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. It is not accurate to label light as solely a particle or wave in quantum mechanics. Reading the FAQ subforum in the General Physics section and searching on Wikipedia or Google for more information is recommended.
  • #1
Cbray
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How does light stay in motion? Why does it travel at it's speed? Does it act as a particle or wave?

Any links I can read information from will be appreciated !~
 
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  • #2


Cbray said:
Does it act as a particle or wave?

Any links I can read information from will be appreciated !~

Please start by reading the FAQ subforum in the General Physics section.

Zz.
 
  • #3


wikipedia is good. Search wikipedia. Or google.
In classical electrodynamics, Maxwell's equations in free space give an electrodynamic wave which travels at c. This is the classical picture.
In quantum mechanics, light is made up of particles called photons which have zero rest mass and must therefore travel at c. These photons show both wave-like and particle-like properties (as with all quantum objects). In quantum mechanics, its not really correct to say something is a wave or is a particle.
 

FAQ: How does light stay in motion? Why does it travel at it's speed? Does

How does light stay in motion?

Light stays in motion due to its nature as an electromagnetic wave. This means that it is self-propagating and does not require an external force to keep moving.

Why does light travel at its speed?

The speed of light is determined by fundamental physical constants, specifically the speed of electricity and magnetism in a vacuum. This constant speed ensures that light can efficiently travel through space.

Does light ever slow down?

Light can appear to slow down when it passes through certain materials, such as water or glass. This is due to the interaction between the light and the particles in the material, which can cause the light to temporarily change direction and appear to be moving slower.

How does light travel through space?

Light travels through space as a wave, with an oscillating electric and magnetic field. These fields do not require a medium to travel through, which is why light can move through the vacuum of space.

Can anything travel faster than light?

According to Einstein's theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than light. This is because as an object approaches the speed of light, its mass increases infinitely, making it impossible for it to reach or exceed the speed of light.

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