I've also read somewhere that there is a theory that the speed of light is actually slowing down. What could that mean?
2006-06-21 17:34:36 · 5 answers · asked by kcman777 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
A tachyon is a hypothetical particle. If you theorize about a particle with an imaginary mass and plug it into the lorentz transformation, you'll describe a particle that travels exclusively faster then the speed of light. No experimental evidence for such a particle exists however.
Also, there is no accepted theory that states the speed of light is slowing down as time goes .
2006-06-21 17:50:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nuetrinos do not, in fact, travel faster than light. Tachyons are entirely theoretical particles that have never been detected. They exist only as mathematical curiosities; chiefly, the mathematics say that they could travel faster than light. Again, they have never been detected from any form of radiation, or at any particle accelerator.
The universe is expanding at all points, increasing the time it takes to get from one place to another. This phenomenon could be explained instead by the speed of light decreasing, whiel the size of space remains unchanged. However, this theory is not substantiated by any relevant mathematical or physical framework, and furthermore, it cannot offer an explaination as to why only the space between galaxies, and not space within the galaxies themselves, seems to be explanding.
2006-06-22 00:44:46 · answer #2 · answered by Argon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a very interesting question. Tachyon's are hypothetical particles that are said to travel faster than the speed of light. Key word is hypothetical. Unlike other particles, tachyon's apparently lose energy as their velocity increases (as opposed to velocity and energy being directly proportional).
As for the speed of light slowing down -- the speed of light is constant. It's not slowing down.
EDIT: To add on, light can slow down. When someone refers to the speed of like (approx. 186,000 miles per second), that is the defined speed of light in a vacuum. Interference can slow light down, but not to any huge extent.
2006-06-22 00:43:52 · answer #3 · answered by kamma_data03 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Contrary to what you hear on here and other places - it's not possible to exceed the speed of light. At that speed "time" stops . How can you exceed that? You can't . And don't believe anyone that tells you otherwise. To the second question - it means that they don't know what they're talking about!
2006-06-22 00:43:40 · answer #4 · answered by DR. HARPOâ⢠5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES, NEUTRINOS TRAVEL FASTER THAN LIGHT
2006-06-22 00:37:52 · answer #5 · answered by seventhundersuttered 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋