Theoretically, if there was a spaceship fast enough to beat the speed of light, and if I were to travel in that spaceship far enough to overtake the distance where light from Earth during the time of the dinosaurs has travelled to, whilst at the same time having transported with me a strong enough telescope to view the Earth, then could I potentially watch the dinosaurs roaming the planet Earth through my telescope?
2006-08-30 08:45:42 · 19 answers · asked by Princess415 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
NO
2006-08-30 08:48:17 · answer #1 · answered by §gorda§ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually, relativity theory prevents you from travelling AT the speed of light; there is no theoretical objection to going FASTER than light...but how are you going to go faster without reaching light speed first?
Also, we know that travelling at very high speeds approaching light speed "slows down time" for the traveller, relative to a static observer - you might travel at near light speeds for 10 years or so by your own reckoning, but to the folks back home (or rather their descendants) you've been gone for hundreds, thousands, even millions of years depending on your speed.
But what about faster-than-light speed? Perhaps the reverse happens - maybe you think you've been going for nearly a lifetime, but to the ground observer you haven't even started yet?
2006-08-30 23:21:22 · answer #2 · answered by Paul FB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't travel faster than light, even theoretically. However, as you approach the speed of light your time relative to time on Earth would slow down. If you travelled away from Earth for a significant distance at a sizeable fraction of the speed of light, then turned around and came back, more time would have passed on Earth than would have passed for you. For example, the trip out and back might take one year by your clock, but (depending on your precise speed and distance) several hundreds or thousands of years would have passed on Earth. Travelling close to light speed allows you to travel into the future (sort of -- the future of other people), but never allows you to travel into the past.
2006-08-30 09:20:58 · answer #3 · answered by stevewbcanada 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, theoritically it is. But there is something... A- at the speed of light, you're gonna have to travel at least 65 million light years; faster the speed, shorter the distance & B- you're gonna have to find a way to live that long 'cause at light speed you would take 65 million years to reach there. To get there in 1 year, you would have to travel 65 million times faster than the speed of light.
Irrespective, another interesting point to note is that if there's ever a way to beat light, dinosaurs is far ahead, but while you're on your way, you would see life on earth going backwards.
<--- correction edit --->
Sorry, math error... at DOUBLE the speed of light, you're gonna have to travel at least 130 million light years... not to forget, light would've travelled 65 million light years further ahead. And moving at the speed of light, you would never be able to see dinosaurs, but you would be able to see a still picture of earth, no matter how far you travel.
2006-08-30 09:05:36 · answer #4 · answered by ngt_765 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes it is . I think the furthest we can see is about 10 to 12 billion light years away. So if you where to have a way of traveling that far that fast, and be able to focus on that point, yes it is possible.
And yes, light most certainly defines time. Einstein pretty much covered that.
2006-08-30 08:52:45 · answer #5 · answered by brokolay 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
theoretically if we could look at a mirror that is 1 million light years away, then we could see Earth 2 million years ago. but it would have to be one really huge mirror.
2006-08-30 09:57:37 · answer #6 · answered by outbaksean 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch Jurassic Park.
2006-08-30 19:09:37 · answer #7 · answered by Phlodgeybodge 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I suppose theoretically yes, but traveling the speed of light is impossible, much less past it. Sorry. Interesting question, though.
2006-08-30 08:50:15 · answer #8 · answered by JBarleycorn 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Aliens on a planet 5,000,000 light years away can view the dinosaurs, but you can't
2006-08-30 09:17:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
superb question - I suppose yes, but what size of telescope would you need? Unless your spaceship doubled up as a telescope.... and a yellow submarine!
2006-08-30 09:01:02 · answer #10 · answered by CammyCyclismo 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can travel faster than light if you want but light does not define time, you can't travel back in time unfortunately.
2006-08-30 08:50:29 · answer #11 · answered by agius1520 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋