2006-08-25 08:58:41 · 22 answers · asked by pumpmar 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
YOU ARE absolutely right
2006-08-25 09:00:55 · answer #1 · answered by clair 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's impossible.
It is absolutely impossible for anything of mass to break the speed of light. However, something of no mass actually doesn't have a speed limit. Most people don't know this (or well, it APPEARS to have no speed limit, but it actually does)
But you can accelerate something of no mass well beyond the speed of light. Too bad you still don't 'really' break the speed of light. You essentially stretch the particles so they get to the destination faster, they still travel at light speed. This was done by passing photons through cesium before.
Something of mass can't break or reach the speed of light because the energy required to reach that speed is infinite, so you can't reach the speed of light without becoming light.
2006-08-25 15:49:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically correct version of the assertion is "Nothing travels faster than light IN VACUUM". The speed of light in vacuum is 300,000 km/sec. However, light can travel at a speed lower than this, depending upon the density of the medium it is traveling in.
The assertion that no particle can travel at a speed greater than the speed of light in vacuum is not based on speculation, but on solid equations representing physical laws. This speed limit was the unintended consequence of the failure of Michaelson-Morley experiment (for which the duo got nobel prize) to find an all-pervading "ether" medium in the universe. This "failure" of the experiment formed the basis of the special theory of relativity by Einstein, where he makes this assertion. All the mathematical equations in physics also indicate the impossibility of any particle having speed greater than the speed of light in vacuum.
2006-08-25 10:53:32 · answer #3 · answered by sophus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, Einsteins various theories state that there is nothing faster. In that none of his work has been proven wrong, ever I trust that this too is correct. Many, many brilliant scientists work there entire carreers try to his theories correct. None have proven him wrong,
Second commen sense holds that there is nothing faster. Why? Well if you hypothesize that there is something faster then it is moving away from you at a rate faster than light thereby disabling your ability to see it or sense it. Therefore it isn't there at all.
2006-08-25 09:04:09 · answer #4 · answered by Carl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not known for sure as is usually the case. There have been theories about the possibility that light speed is not the limit. For now it does seem likely that the speed of light is a universal limit but who knows what we will discover via science will in the future.
2006-08-25 09:03:59 · answer #5 · answered by Jenny 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
experiments over the years have proven beyond doubt that the speed of light remains constant for every frame of reference no matter what as long as the medium is same......it thus logically follows that light must be the limiting speed.....it has of course been proven by Einstein using some very complex math...he also proved that to propel a body to the speed of light will require infinite energy.....thus nothing is faster than light.
2006-08-29 03:17:00 · answer #6 · answered by kaushal 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well eisnteins theories prove that light is the fastest thing in the world and that nothing can go faster than light
but
then they say that some particles have been found in the ionosphere that have be said to have travelled faster than light
2006-08-25 09:15:07 · answer #7 · answered by rwer w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We will only know when someone proves the existing theory on the limiting speed of light to be incorrect and proposes a new theory that can be substantiated with evidence. That's how Science works.
2006-08-25 09:51:50 · answer #8 · answered by ideaquest 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are particles known as "tachyons" ( see wikipedia ) that are theoretically possible in current physics.
though not proven to exist, their speed always exceeds that of light but NEVER equal to it. they cannot slow down to light speed.
this is not a violation of relativity.
attempts have been made detect them but not successful.
to answer your question, YES, theoretically the possibility is there, but then the principle that nothing travels AT the speed of light except light still holds.
2006-08-25 16:02:35 · answer #9 · answered by fullbony 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neutrinos travel faster than light. As a matter-of-fact, they can ONLY travel faster than light.
2006-08-29 03:05:57 · answer #10 · answered by brainzrgood4u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a lot of things faster than light, we just can't see them.
2006-08-25 09:04:18 · answer #11 · answered by The Man 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋