MadSci Network: Physics |
Part I: I've heard two theories on why light is bent near massive bodies - 1. Massive objects warp the curvature of space, so that even though the light thinks it is travelling in a straight line, it is moving in a curve to an observer. 2. photons don't have real mass, but do have an "effective inertial mass" from their energy. This inertial mass is equivalent to a gravitational mass and so photons are affected by gravity. Question: Which theory is correct and can you explain a bit more? I only know a little about each ( I have first-year special relativity and a bit of general) Part II: A friend of mine asked me a question I couldn't answer: What is the speed of light in a photon's reference frame? Does time and space exist from the point of view of a photon (and it's reference frame)? Thanks for your help! Sarah PS - I love the site.
Re: Why is light bent near massive objects and describe a photon's life
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