2006-10-17 14:54:03 · 10 answers · asked by goring 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Can it be said that the relative velocity is ZERO?
2006-10-17 15:09:01 · update #1
First, experiments have been performed at high velocities over long distances to determine the speed of light. Strangely, regardless of the speed which a person is traveling, the speed of light remains constant. This lead to Einstein's frame of reference theories that as velocity increases time slows and distances shorten. This is where the postulates concerning an astronaut leaving the planet near the speed of light and returning years later is only a year older.
So, if you were to travel at the speed of light, time would stop and and distance would cease to exist.
However, if you were able to travel at the speed of light, you'd still measure the speed of light approaching you as the speed of light.
2006-10-17 15:11:21 · answer #1 · answered by David C 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes, but it would appear to be the same speed as it was when you were standing still
that is because as you approach the speed of light time slows down, so if you are going very close to the speed of light and measured how far it went ahead of you in a second, you would find the same speed as if you measured it when not moving, that is because what you though was a second was actually much longer to the outside observer.
2006-10-17 22:15:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The speed of light is a constant for all reference frames. So an individual traveling near the speed of light would measure light propogating away from him/her at the speed of light (approximately 3x10^8 m/s).
The hypothetical case where an individual is traveling at the speed of light, is probably a degenerate case. Meaning that although this individual would measure a photon propogate away from him at the speed of light, since time is stopped, it becomes difficult to define this measurement.
2006-10-17 22:02:55 · answer #3 · answered by Kevin R 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's still the speed of light. It doesn't matter how fast you are going, which will never actually be the speed of light.
2006-10-17 22:00:24 · answer #4 · answered by JBarleycorn 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Moot question since you could never travel at the speed of light LOL 8-)
2006-10-17 22:04:25 · answer #5 · answered by TommyTrouble 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes. look at something travelling towards you and half the speed.
2006-10-17 21:59:12 · answer #6 · answered by tattie_herbert 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can never measure it..if you both were going at the speed of light...you could never catch it and it could never leave you....
2006-10-17 21:58:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think that in that case you and light would be at rest relative to each other, so you would have to conclude that light is not moving...
2006-10-17 22:03:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
if you were moving the speed of light you wouldn't be able to do nothing but disintegrate
2006-10-17 21:57:55 · answer #9 · answered by 411sponge 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
yes just look at your speed-o meter
2006-10-17 21:58:43 · answer #10 · answered by onegifford 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋