What would happen to special relativity and what would be the consequences if the greatest speed in the universe had not been the speed of light, but the speed of something very similar to light (say, light*; the speed of light* = 2 times the speed of light).
2006-10-28 19:04:43 · 6 answers · asked by quantum 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Probably nothing. Whatever the speed of light is, that is the maximum speed of objects. A change in the speed of light would mean that one or both of two fundamental constants of nature would have to change. These two constants are the permittivity of free space epsilon sub zero and the permeability of free space, mu sub zero. These constants of nature establish the relatinship between electric and magnetic fields, as descrlbed by Maxwell's Equations, from which the speed of light in a vacuum is derived. I am not aware of any fundamental derivation of these constants, so conceivably they could be different. Probably other parameters would also have to be different as well (maybe Plank's constant, electronic charge, etc.)
2006-10-28 19:18:14 · answer #1 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that really wouldn't make much of noticeable difference to us because everyday speeds are far below light. Communications systems that use light and radio waves would work faster but that is about it. On the other hand, if the speed of light was much slower then things would get really bizarre.
2006-10-29 01:09:48 · answer #2 · answered by abcdefghijk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1-(v/c)^2 would be negative. Square root of this negative quantity would be imaginary.
But why is it to have this speed limit=speed of light? Is it the physics in a physical world? Maxwell equation must be satisfied?
There is a particle which can be imagined to travel faster than speed of light. I forgot this imaginary particle's name.
2006-10-29 01:20:04 · answer #3 · answered by chanljkk 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It definatly would not be called light, more proably a perticular "energy state"
If this can happen Relativity would be blow out of the water for ever!
2006-10-29 01:20:42 · answer #4 · answered by Mikey 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
<>It would not have any relevance because we would be used to a different universal constant and would not consider it to be unusual. BTW, c would still be c in the new universe!
2006-10-29 01:20:14 · answer #5 · answered by druid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There would be new equations, new laws, new areas to be explored and old experiments need to be explained in that light....
Oh! exciting!...
2006-10-29 01:55:55 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋