2006-11-16 05:56:45 · 14 answers · asked by steven m 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
einstein wondered what stuff would look like if he traveled the speed of light. One thing he wondered about is what would light look like.
You should know what a dopler shift is. When something is traveling away from you the wavelength of radiation emitted from that object increases in wavelength. If you look at the formula for calulating the shift in wavelength you see that the limit as we approach the speed of light is that the wave becomes flat (there is no wave). So we would see nothing.
Also the way the equation is set up, in conjunction with with fact that wavelength*frequency = speed of light, this also means that the frequency goes to infinity. This is because to travel at this speed is impossible. But you were wondering what the light would look like so the answer is the wavelength becomes zero and you see nothing.
2006-11-16 07:00:21 · answer #1 · answered by xian gaon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they would function normally. your in uniform motion (not accelerating) so your headlights would procede at the speed of light from you outward.
"All laws of physics work the same when your in uniform motion"
Being at a constant velocity really means that everything would work the same. If you had a baseball in your hand while traveling at the speed of light and you threw it in front of you it would indeed fly out in front of you. (the ball is also traveling at light speed)
The question then many students would ask is "this can't be the ball would be going faster than the speed of light then for some period of time" Well for an observer standing watching you do this yes that is true but from your point of view the ball is only traveling at the speed in which you threw it.
2006-11-16 14:41:40 · answer #2 · answered by travis R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends at which color you're traveling?
Or was that wavelengths.
If all electromagnetic energy travels at the same speed then, is there a difference as to whether your headlights were shining Gamma or X-rays or ultraviolet or infrared or visible light?
If you can emit anything faster than the speed at which you are travelling and have the car "read" it then you could "see ahead of yourself"
Also, if you were travelling at the speed of light and you got pulled over by a galaxy patrolman, you might get a fine if you had no headlights...
2006-11-16 14:10:13 · answer #3 · answered by NotsoaNonymous 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes. The speed of light is always the same no matter what. It's a strange concept but it's been proven experimentally. You in your car going 99.9999% the speed of light ( since going the speed of light is not possible ;) ) woud see no difference.
The only difference between you and a 'stationary' observer would be that you would both observe your headlights traveling a different amount of distance.
This part of Einsteins theory on relativity.
2006-11-16 14:06:43 · answer #4 · answered by Louis G 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who knows? If you travel at a constant speed of light the vibrations would be so strong your vehicle would break up into a million pieces and your headlights would probably end up 1000000 miles away.
2006-11-16 15:32:14 · answer #5 · answered by mr yass 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WEll, first of all you couldn't go that fast but if you got as close to the speed of light as you wanted without actually getting there, your headlights would send out a beam that you would measure as leaving the car at the speed of light.
2006-11-16 14:02:09 · answer #6 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it but don't know - if you can speed up your car (or whatever it is) to faster than the speed of light, wouldn't the speed of light comming out your headlights be the same as that of the speed of light relitive to your car?
2006-11-16 14:03:52 · answer #7 · answered by Cathy :) 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they would be of good use to see in front of you. You wont actually make it to the speed of light though, it's just not possible. But if you went REEAAALLLY fast then they would still work. The light would still move away from you at the speed c.
2006-11-16 14:23:37 · answer #8 · answered by Article 82 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the speed of light is 300000000ms-1 (rounded value) right!! your vehicle would be ripped apart due to air resistance!! but anyhow if it withstood the air resistance your headlights wouldnt be any good because you would be travelling that fast you wouldnt be seeing pure white light.
thats the theory anyway!!! but interesting question!!
2006-11-17 15:01:50 · answer #9 · answered by e1-ferrari 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont be a dick it is vitualy and physicaly impossible to reach the speed of light as u gain more speed u also gain more wieght there fore u would need more energy to reach that type of speed
2006-11-16 14:33:06 · answer #10 · answered by jack 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋