If two objects travel past eachother at just over half the speed of light ...?

Question

Wouldn't there relative speed be greater than that of light speed?

Answer 1

Since you are saying about the relative speed of the two objects, It is evident that both are moving with speed greater than half the speed of light with respect to another observer, say ,our earth.

If A and B are the two objects moving with a speed of 0.8 times C (the speed of light) toward each other with reference to earth.

As per the theory of relativity their relative speed is given by the formula,

u = (u’ + v) / {1+ u’v/cc}

Here u’ = v = 0.8 C.

This yields the result,

u = 0.975C.

Thus the relative speed is 0.975C and this is less than C.

Answer 2

No. Special Relativity provides the formulas to work this out. An observer on each object will see the other approaching at a speed faster than either but not as fast as the speed of light.

Answer 3

First of all, it's meaningless to give a speed unless you specify the observer who measures the speed. This question basically amounts to challenging Relativity without first learning it. If an observer sees two objects travelling in opposite directions at .6 times the speed of light, he will, of course, be of the opinion that they have a relative speed of 1.2 c, but no one will ever observe any single material object as travelling at or faster than the speed of light. When an observer on either of these two objects looks at the other object, he will see it as moving away from him at less than the speed of light, not 1.2 times the speed of light. You cannot simply add the speeds. You have to use the relativistic velocity addition formula.

Answer 4

For a fixed obsever, each object will be traveling a bit faster that half the speed of light. For a observer in one of the objects, the other object will be moving at the speed of the light (no greater). The difference is the time: For the observer in the object, the time will pass slower that the time for the fixed observer.

Answer 5

No. Their relative speed would be equal to the slowest moving object plus the difference of speed between the two. That is if I am reading your question correctly. If the two objects collide, however, then the impact speed would be greater than the speed of light.

Answer 6

First, we have to define that they are both moving at 0.5c (half the speed of light, c=speed of light) relative to some fixed frame of reference.

To an object moving at a significant fraction of the speed of light, (>0.1c), distances parallel to the direction of travel shrink and time dilates (or slows down) compared with the 'unmoving' frame of reference. These factors combine to make each object see the other as moving close to (but never exceeding) the speed of light.

Answer 7

Yes, but actual velocity is not calculated by using another moving object as reference. Just like if one car went 30 mph one way, and another car 30 mph the other way- their relative velocities would be 60mph, but their actual speed relative to a stationary object is still 30 mpg...

In short, relative velocities are capable of exceeding the speed of light and be in the range of perceivable phenomenon.

Answer 8

Assume a generator supplies current from A to B in a wire at a speed of 0.7c and another generator supplies current from B to A at 0.7c in another wire. The relative speed of current in one wire is definitely 1.7c. The relative speed of light from two opposite light sources is definitely 2c. The relativity theory refers to frames other than light and these frames' speed cannot be greater than c.

Answer 9

No matter how many space ships are flying through space, no matter how fast they are going and no matter what directions they are moving relative to one another, none of the spacemen inside these spacecraft nor anyone else in the universe will record any of their speeds as equal to or faster than the speed of light.

Answer 10

You will just see the other train travel faster than speed of light (If your eye is that powerful).