2006-09-08 19:47:23 · 15 answers · asked by John G 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Such as the yet to be discovered/proven Tachyon?
2006-09-08 19:52:48 · update #1
Our current laws of physics are a joke and will be seen as such in 80 years or so if we make it that far into the future. I believe that something is capable of traveling faster then light but I think its more likely we will find light that travels extra fast first maybe. I would be interested to know how fast light travels when it enters a black hole straight on. If the gravity can bend light surely it can speed it up also. But then again what do I know lol...
2006-09-08 20:16:12 · answer #1 · answered by magpiesmn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A frog living in a well tries to understand everything in relation to its well. How can it understand the ocean?
So we are trying to understand things by our limited experience, and often as that experience gets extended the old ideas get thrown out and replaced by new ones. But we are very insignificant in this universe, like an ant in a huge building. Can we ever fully understand the universe? Not to put down the huge advancements in science, but in the complete picture of things those advancements may not be that huge. If we are complacent about how much we know, then we have already shut ourselves off to discovering so much more.
So we should expect our laws to be undermined
2006-09-08 21:53:09 · answer #2 · answered by debarun p 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but it would cause them to be revised.
We already know that the constancy of the speed of light (which leads to its being a maximum speed) works extremeley well in all circumstances that we currently know of. A single observation would not change this. Consequently we would have to understand what was "special" about this observation, and adapt theories to account for it.
This adaptation could be very minor. But it may be huge. For example, in classical physics the amount of light given out by a hot body goes up catastrophically with frequency, so that a body radiates infinite energy. This is clearly wrong, and the solution to this simple failing of the theory led to an entire new branch of physics - quantum mechanics.
Until an observation that leads to these sorts of issues is made, it is impossible to predict the consequences on our understanding.
And by the way, ignore water boy - his answer is steeped in ignorance and it is a perfectly good question.
2006-09-08 20:18:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it has already been done. (the laws of physics are ever-changing anyways).
It has been done: the speed of light is always slower in a medium, such as water, glass, air, or plastic (these are just popular examples)
The speed of light in a vacuum (space vacuum, not an Oreck), is defined as three hundred million meters per second.
However, the speed of light in a diamond is approximately 0.41 of the speed of light in space.
Furthermore, air (such as any other medium) always slows down the speed of light. So, two different light beams could start at the edge of the earth, one goes above the atmosphere and one just slightly in, and the air will slow down the one light beam, letting the other go ahead.
So it is possible, just a human has not experienced it yet.
2006-09-08 20:12:32 · answer #4 · answered by Double Century Dude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would certainly shake things up. Relativistic mechanics sets a limit to the speed at which a signal can propagate, so if a tachyon could be generated at some point A and sensed at a different point B, relativistic mechanics would be shown to be wrong. But it isn't likely to happen.
2006-09-08 20:25:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Discovering something that traveled faster than light would cause physicists to revise the scientific model of the laws of physics. Or you could alternatively discover that astrology really does permit someone to predict the future, accurately and in detail. Or you could figure out how to cast Magic Spells to levitate, turn yourself invisible, and shoot fireballs from your fingers.
2006-09-08 20:31:53 · answer #6 · answered by David S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on which laws you are talking about.
The basic idea is that "classical physics" tends to break down when objects go near the speed of light, and "modern (relativistic) physics" works at any speed.
Many of the modern ideas (i.e. relativity/time dilation/length contraction) would be affected by the discovery of something traveling faster than the speed of light, but on the other hand many of the older "classical" ideas (i.e. Newton's Laws) could possibly be reinforced by this discovery.
2006-09-08 20:33:40 · answer #7 · answered by cushdogjr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, and you won't be able to understand why not until you learn physics. Your question broadcasts your ignorance of natural philosophy and the scientific method. Maybe Yahoo will create a category for you to ask questions about that would actually apply to someone with your educational background, i.e. "McDonald's". Or, you might try your inquiries in "politics", that's an existing category which you might like, since it is also full of pointless puffery.
2006-09-08 20:04:39 · answer #8 · answered by water boy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Einstein's theory of relativity undermined physics as it was known at the time. He theorized that nothing could surpass the speed of light in a vacuum. If something did, this theory would certainly be undermined and proved wrong.
2006-09-08 19:50:14 · answer #9 · answered by Aaron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so.I believe thoughts travel faster than the light does.
But that's not enough to undermine the great and beautiful laws of Physics.
2006-09-08 20:06:15 · answer #10 · answered by Reshu S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋