Question

Is there any measurable difference between the momentum of a photon and the momentum of matter?

a) Yes, photons have greater momentum.

b) No, momentum is the same for both.

c) The difference depends on the medium.

d) Only matter has measurable momentum.

Answer 1

Photons have momentum which can be measured and is greater than the momentum of matter, like electrons, when considering particles with identical energies.

Step-by-step explanation:

To answer the question about the measurable difference between the momentum of a photon and the momentum of matter, photons do indeed possess momentum despite having no mass. The formula for the momentum of all particles, including those without mass like photons, is ℒ = (E/c), where ℒ is momentum, E is energy, and c is the speed of light.

Comparing the momentum of a photon to the momentum of matter such as an electron, we find that for particles with identical energies, the momentum of the photon is greater because it is solely reliant on energy and is not reduced by mass. Photons have applications in technologies like space sails, which can use the momentum of photons to propel spacecraft.