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Question:
DOES THE ELECTRON TRAVEL AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT?


Replies:
No. If you calculate the instantaneous speed of electron using the theoretical models, it comes out to be the velocity of light. However, we cannot measure instantaneous speeds, but only speed averaged over some time scale by measuring position at two instants of time. When we do this, the speed is always less than the velocity of light. Theoretical models also predict average velocity less than speed of light. The above discussion only applies to speed of light in vacuum. Electrons can , and do, travel at speeds faster than speed of light in some media.

Jasjeet


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