2006-11-12 14:51:00 · 13 answers · asked by Ernie R 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Answer is yes. By "seeing", what we really mean is our eyes receiving light either reflected or emitted from an object. It doesn't matter how fast the object is moving, or if it's approaching or receeding - the speed of light is constant, therefore you will see it both coming and going. That's one of the beautys of relativity - the speed of light is not relative to the object it's coming from, but instead is fixed and will measure the same speed for all observers in the universe, moving or not.
2006-11-12 15:32:14 · answer #1 · answered by Gary H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No according to Einstein. According to his theory of relativity as an object moves toward the speed of light it becomes more massive and shrinks. When it hits the speed of light it will become infinitely massive and shrink to nothing. So Einstein said that it is impossible to go faster than the speed of light, period. Also, as your friends on the spaceship approach the speed of light time will move slower for them than the rest of us on Earth. So basically, they will be traveling into the future (no coming back though). Remember, this is mostly theory, except the traveling to the future thing, its been proven. But quantum mechanics may disagree with Einstein, that objects cannot move faster than light, and they say that if you do you will move backward through time. Check out the double slit test to find out how things might be moving backward through time regularly and effecting the past!!
2006-11-13 00:43:45 · answer #2 · answered by kev 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I seriously doubt it. The space shuttle exceeds 7 miles a second to reach space. Imagine it going overhead at that speed... I doubt you'd see anything but a flash or blur. Light could circle the earth 7 times in one second at sea level so a spaceship anywhere near light speed would be going too fast to see.
2006-11-13 01:07:47 · answer #3 · answered by Michael da Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Velocity of light is a constant. Therefore, for an object (a star, for example) moving towards you at the speed of light, the speed of the light (source) towards you will remain the same as for a static star. However, time will slow down (Refer to Einstein's equation for speeds approaching that of light). If you were to reverse the direction of travel, similarly, the souce of light emanating from the object will still reach you (and we are referring to a sufficiently large light source from the travelling object).
2006-11-13 00:49:44 · answer #4 · answered by dreamofyz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ARE YOU INSIDE? (relativity)
In our definition of science there are certain "absolutes" beyond which the is no existance as we know it.
There is an absolute temperature of 0 degrees Kelvin. Scientists have gotten close, but it is generally believed to be unattainable. All other temperatures are a measure of heat from that absolute.
Time is a seperate dimension, and velocity is derived from space and time. We have not found anything in our universe that travels faster than light. Certainly, we have not witnessed any physical matter at that speed.
If we did see it, would we have any way to measure it? Or know that its movent has not altered our perception of its "time frame"?
Einstein believed that as velocity (relative to a specific base point) approaches light speed, that time would alter (relative to a base timing measure). In this theory, an object actually moving instantaneously at light speed from a "witness" may not even appear to move at all.
The molecules of your finger move at close to that pace even now.
The "front" of any object would tend to stretch immesaurably far from the "back" purely because the object has dimension in the direction of travel. However, since time is altered, such an event may not ever appear to occur. Indeed, as light-speed is approached, time approaches a standstill - an absolute of material existence. Space becomes undefined.
Only photons, which are not of space or matter can exist at such speed.
The particles of atoms comprising your finger travel at nearly the speed of light. You see your finger - NOT the collective of sub-atomic particles, but the photons reflected. Turn out the lights and place yourself in a totally dark room. See your finger?
YOU ALWAYS ONLY SEE PHOTONS TRAVELING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT AND NOTHING MORE.
A spaceship at the speed of light? It wont happen - but be frozen in time. All your life long, you will ONLY see that which moves at the the speed of light.
2006-11-13 00:45:43 · answer #5 · answered by warmspirited 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No the light you see traveling at the speed of light is continual until deminished at it's sourced or until distance remove sit form your sight.
But a spaceship traveling at the speed of light would be only a blip on the most sensitive of equipment as it passed by.Were you traveling at the same speed side by side it would be visable but there i sno proof or even good theory as to what yuo would observe or if sight would even be possible at that speed.
2006-11-12 22:55:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No physical object can move at the speed of light. Its mass will start increasing as it approaches the speed pf light and it will never attainn that speed. Since it cannot travel at the speed pf light, the question is superflous.
However if we assume it does travel at that speed, we will see it crossing us, after it has actually crossed us, if it is approaching us. Similar to our heariing the sound of a lightening after it has occured.
2006-11-12 23:05:12 · answer #7 · answered by subodh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't see a spaceship traveling at the speed of light because no spaceship can ever get up to the speed of light.
2006-11-12 22:55:21 · answer #8 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. You cannot see a spaceship going the speed of light.
light speed= 670,616,629.384 miles per hour
2006-11-12 23:06:35 · answer #9 · answered by Tushar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, the light will be red-shifted to infinity methinks.
2006-11-13 00:54:56 · answer #10 · answered by Roman Soldier 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋