Photon's Point Sized Universe or plane sized?

In summary: This is making the assumption that you CAN transform to the rest frame of the photon and then see what's going on. This contradicts our understand of physics.In summary, according to relativity, a photon's perspective of the universe is that it is point sized. However, recent research shows that contraction does occur in the dimension in which an object is travelling, so the photon would see the universe as an Infinite plane with an infinitesimal thickness. It's unclear why this would be, though.
  • #36
Hi aayushgsa,

Assuming that is meaningful for a photon to have an inertial reference frame, (i.e that there is an inertial reference frame in which the photon can be said to be at rest) causes a contradiction with the fundamental assumption of relativity, that the speed of light is c in any irf.
 
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  • #37
aayushgsa said:
Hello,
I recently read about a photon's point of view according to relativity(which is a fascinating thing for a high school boy), It said to photon's perspective the universe is point sized. But recently I learned that lorentz contraction occurs in the dimension in which the object is travelling. If this is so, Imagine a photon traveling in the z direction according to lorentz transformation formulas, Contraction would only be in the Z direction and the photon will see the universe as an Infinite plane with an infinitesimal thickness. isn't it?. But the thing that photon sees universe as point sized seems contrary. Where I am Wrong? Please use some maths(but simple because i am still a high schooler).
Thank-You

The photon does not have a perspective as such, because it doesn't have a frame of reference. The reason why, is because if it did, it would actually never traverse a space in any amount of time.
 
  • #38
We don't seem to be talking about the OP any more. Wouldn't it be appropriate to start a new thread?

EDIT: Per Bill_K's suggestion the off topic posts have been moved to a new thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=705544
 
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  • #39
ah, thanks. yes, sorry I pulled the thread off-topic quite a bit.
 

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