# How can we observe lights properties if it travels at the speed of light, or can we? [duplicate]

Special relativity says that anything moving (almost) at the speed of light will look like its internal clock has (almost) stopped from the perspective of a stationary observer. How do we see light as alternating electric and magnetic fields? Also does light never age?

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## marked as duplicate by Waffle's Crazy Peanut, Brandon Enright, Qmechanic♦Jun 1 '13 at 12:35

Hi Zach. I think the the question has not been properly defined. Please have an introductory on Electromagnetism and especially Maxwell equations..! –  Waffle's Crazy Peanut May 31 '13 at 16:14
Possible duplicates: physics.stackexchange.com/q/27794/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/54162/2451 and links therein. –  Qmechanic May 31 '13 at 20:12

You can think of the photon as a sine wave shaped electric field fragment traveling at $c$, and you can measure it's amplitude and frequency as it flys past your instrument. The photon itself does not oscillate.
@Jim: I think that would cause more confusion, as there is no sine wave shaped things that moving at $c$. Electromagnetic field oscillates locally and this disturbance propagates with $c$. Actually no movement here at all. Waves are tricky... If you can word your suggestion in a non-confusing manner, feel free to edit my answer. –  Calmarius May 31 '13 at 17:31