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Chapter 28: Q21CQ (page 1028)

Given the fact that light travels at c, can it have mass? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified

According to special relativity, no. Nothing with mass can travel faster than the speed of light.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of mass 

The quantity of matter in a physical body is referred to as its mass. It is also used to calculate the body's inertia, or resistance to acceleration when a net force is applied. The mass of an object determines the strength of its gravitational attraction to other bodies. The kilogramme is the SI base unit of mass.

02

Explanation 

The speed of light, the speed at which light waves propagate through various materials.

Since, the speed of light \(c\) is the upper limit of the speed of a huge object, and light cannot have mass

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The mass of the fuel in a nuclear reactor decreases by an observable amount as it puts out energy. Is the same true for the coal and oxygen combined in a conventional power plant? If so, is this observable in practice for the coal and oxygen? Explain.

All galaxies farther away than about\({\rm{50 \times 1}}{{\rm{0}}^{\rm{6}}}{\rm{ ly}}\)exhibit a red shift in their emitted light that is proportional to distance, with those farther and farther away having progressively greater red shifts. What does this imply, assuming that the only source of red shift is relative motion? (Hint: At these large distances, it is space itself that is expanding, but the effect on light is the same.)

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Does motion affect the rate of a clock as measured by an observer moving with it? Does motion affect how an observer moving relative to a clock measures its rate?

Consider a thought experiment. You place an expanded balloon of air on weighing scales outside in the early morning. The balloon stays on the scales and you are able to measure changes in its mass. Does the mass of the balloon change as the day progresses? Discuss the difficulties in carrying out this experiment.
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