Lets say that right now the Earth (the entire solar system) is moving in some direction away from an object or cluster of objects at just past the speed of light (foregoing Einsteins theories for the moment).
If that were true (or possible) we would not be able to see the object(s) as light reflected from them would never reach us.
So let's say we started traveling toward this "object" (in a rocket or whatever) at some speed so that the difference between the speed of the object and our current speed were less than the speed of light, we would then start seeing the object. Because now, light reflected from the object would reach our eyes (or camera).
At first it would be probably appear red but as our speed increased (and the differential speed decreased), we would see the object more clearly.
Possible?
2006-07-09 10:37:15 · 7 answers · asked by Enigma 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No.
Behind you would be totally black and ahead of you all incoming light would have infinite intensity.
As you approached light speed you would be surrounded by a rainbow coloured ring of stars that would get thinner and thinner as you approached closer and closer to light speed. The red side of the ring would be towards the rear and the forward side would be the violet side of the ring.
This is essentially what you would perceive as the visual experience of trying to attain light speed - IF it were possible for you to travel at light speed.
From a photon's (light particle's) point of view, the universe is a sphere of zero radius, since it would take exactly the same time (zero time) to reach any point in the universe regardless of the remote point's distance or the direction of travel. This also means that from a photon's point of view, the speed of light is infinite.
In this puzzling universe, it is possible for something to be infinite from one point of view while distinctly finite from another point of view at the same time.
Thus the speed of light depends on your adopted viewpoint. However it is still constant either way - constant at infinite speed from a photon's viewpoint or constant at 299,792.458 km/s (186,282.397 mi/s) from the point of view of any object with mass.
Actually, it is logically invalid to adopt the point of view of the photon as the observer viewpoint.
2006-07-09 12:08:24 · answer #1 · answered by Jay T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suppose it would be possible if you accept all your conclusions as true. But the speed of light seems to be the absolute speed limit for the universe, accepting Einstein's theories, we can approach it, but never exceed it. I don't think at this point we understand the concept of light well enough to even go into a discussion about light, let alone the speed of light. Is light a wave, or a stream of particles, or something beyond that? We don't know. We do know that somehow speed affects time, so time travel becomes possible if we exceed that speed limit also...
2006-07-09 10:54:48 · answer #2 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason light speed is unnattainable by anything that possesses mass, is that as matter of any kind approaches the speed of light, its mass tends towards infinity. So, not only is it inconceivable to have a mass of infinity, the basic laws of physics means we would need infinite energy to accelerate any mass, even a particle, to the speed of light.
Interestingly enough, and not often pointed out, is that since time also shortens to nothing as you approach the speed of light, if you could ride a light beam, you would get anywhere in the universe instantly. So, from the point of view of light, its speed is infinite.
2006-07-09 11:15:51 · answer #3 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Still no. You actually had the answer in your question. You can't have a speed (even relative that is greater than the speed of light). That said. Why do you think that we would see the object....not clearly? Just wondering.
2006-07-09 10:44:32 · answer #4 · answered by sloelrnr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any physicist will allow you to do not ignore that, see you later as an merchandise has discernible mass, that's not achievable for it to go back and forth on the speed of light, now to not indicate swifter than it. consequently, that is (extremely) not likely that human beings will ever develop technologies able to handing over products everywhere close to the speed of light.
2016-11-06 02:49:57 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We probably wouldnt see anything. As one's velocity nears the speed of light, one's perception (sight sound smell etc/.) would narrow to an infintisimally small pin point, and very long, like the rest of one's physical body. As one's velocity slows back down, one's perception might return back to normal as well. I dont think our minds would be doing much if we are conserving energy, the way einstein wants us to, our minds could not work the way they do here on earth. Perception is very difficult to define at very high velocity.
2006-07-09 10:49:23 · answer #6 · answered by treespyders 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dude seriously no offense but dont worry about stuff like this an live your life what does it matter if you know the answer to this question it isnt gonna help you have fun and enjoy your life get out there and have fun and be happy
2006-07-09 10:43:13 · answer #7 · answered by sportster 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋