What if.... E=mc2 is only true in proximity to a massive object (e.g. a planet). What if when you move away from a massive object that your speed is not affected by your mass. So space travel across galaxies is possible and almost instantaneous.
This would mean that as soon as we leave our solar system, space travel is easy and the universe is not quite as big as we thought. What do you think?
2006-07-30 22:11:39 · 18 answers · asked by Henry 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes, it is, at 2.99792458 * 10^8 metres per second.
The reason that it is true both near and far from massive objects is for two reasons:
1) The only way that massive objects actually affect the space around them is through gravity, and that is not something which can affect E = mc^2
2) It is experimentally verifiable the degree to which gravity affects things - and lesser gravity does not mean things can move easier... in fact, we depend on E = mc^2 keeping the same nearer and further from massive objects to keep a number of GPS, sattellite, and even some aircraft things in step. (Atomic clocks and all that are affected by proximity to mass, and that can be measured very accurately)
Hope that is helpful.
By the way, lovely little idea, sad that it is not true though.
Unfortunately, E = mc^2 is something that cannot be switched in or off, it is a basic property of the universe. :)
2006-07-30 22:27:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
The speed of light is a constant who's value depends on two other measured quantities, specifically the permittivity of the vaccum and the permeability of the vacuum, both of which are constants and therefor the speed of light is a constant. The equation E=mc^2 is the residual energy of a mass at rest as calculated using the lorenzian transformation whilst calculating the integral of force acting on a mass through a distance in relativistic terms (integral of force through distance is the definition of work). There is no need in this calculation for there to be any other matter in the universe and applies equally to a particle in empty space as it does to a particle on earth.
2006-07-31 02:59:41 · answer #2 · answered by zebbedee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity bends space time. The speed of light is constant in a vaccum (obviously it's slower if it has to bounce off dust). If it's moving in a straight line, and it comes close to a massive object, the light is still moving in a straight line, it's the space that gets bent.
Imagine space as a mattress and the object as a bowling ball. The bowling ball bends the mattress, so if you roll a marble in a straight line near the bowling ball, its path will curve. Same thing with light.
2006-07-30 22:19:30 · answer #3 · answered by 006 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
speed of light through a vacuum is a constant 300000000 m/s
that is some good thinking. but according to the science of the universe the universe or spece in continuous expansion as it has been since the big bang.
considering E=mc2 have you considered the masses of the stars and the consellations that exist in neighbouring galaxies eg the andromeda gallaxy
2006-07-30 22:18:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The velocity of light is 3 x 10 ^ 8 m/s in vacuo.
E = mc^2 is true everywhere, it is simply equating mass and energy by a scaling factor of the speed of light squared.
2006-07-30 22:19:41 · answer #5 · answered by sly` 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
confident - the cost of sunshine is persevering with in vacuum. It slows down in a medium like glass super because of interactions with the atom interior the fabric. Now this does not bring about diffraction - it particularly is a distinctive phenomenon, despite if it does reason refraction - the bending of sunshine far off from its orginal direction because it is going from one medium to a distinctive. The elctric and magentic travelling waves that make up a mild ray would desire to obey specific circumstances at a fabric interface (e.g. air to glass boundary). those subject bring about the bending of teh mild ray because it transits the interface.
2016-12-10 18:42:53 · answer #6 · answered by andie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not too sure the boffins above understood your question properly and are relying on E=mc² to be un fallable.
Not too sure on this but doesnt red light travel quicker than blue light? as in the Red Shift seen in Astronomy.
2006-07-31 00:46:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The speed of light is constant. Your speed, in relation to the speed of light, is the subjective part. Your perception of time passing would differ, but the speed of light would remain constant.
2006-07-30 22:15:57 · answer #8 · answered by curiositycat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. It isn't.
Hence refraction etc. light 'bends' as it passes though materials of varying optical densities.
Also graviometric variances affect it - such as around black holes, and other high mass density objects - as they distort the electro-magnetic spectrum.
2006-07-31 01:25:15 · answer #9 · answered by el_jonson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speed of light is constant if it slowed down or speeded up it would be called something else
2006-07-30 22:14:44 · answer #10 · answered by Begbie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋