If you created a circular device with arms extending from it, and this device could be rotated at a speed at, or a fraction below light speed, could there be a point along the arms where tangential velocity would exceed light speed?
2006-06-21 04:20:33 · 5 answers · asked by mindful1 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Hypothetically yes, but the problem is momentum. As the arms approach the speed of light, the momentum of the arms would approach infinity.
2006-06-21 04:26:39 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The closest thing to tangential velocity, as you speak of, is that of a gravitational field. A mass moving at a right angle to this force is deflected toward the field, and its velocity is increased. But, were the same mass to move toward a field that was intense enough to cause it to be accelerated to the speed of light, that, then, is as great as the speed would ever become. Once any mass accelerates to the speed of light, it converts into energy. Can't have it both ways.
2006-06-21 04:45:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is really just asking, "if I push on something for a long time, can I accelerate it up to the speed of light?" The answer is no. The force required to accelerate the tips of the arms increases as their speed approaches that of light. No finite force can accelerate the arms to light speed.
2006-06-21 05:04:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your reasoning is Newtonian in nature. Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity says nothing can exceed the speed of light. This has been verified by numerous observations and experimentations.
2006-06-21 05:33:47 · answer #4 · answered by Shank 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no way of understanding what the universe is like previous our journey. we can are awaiting issues like this yet under no circumstances be particular. as an occasion, all of us comprehend that the closer you commute to the linked fee of light, the extra time dilates. From this, we can are awaiting that, if it have been available, traveling swifter than the linked fee of light has the consequence of reversing time. yet we don't assume the universe is the scale that we degree it to be, the universe all of us comprehend and spot is named the observable universe (with a radius of 13.7billion gentle years). even however, the main cutting-edge suggestions are awaiting the universe, in it truly is entirety to have a radius of over 100billion gentle years. So your good in asserting that there is a few thing previous the observable universe we don't comprehend approximately, with the aid of fact there must be something! yet we don't assume the observable universe is all this is there.
2016-10-31 05:55:00 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋