2006-12-19 09:23:55 · 8 answers · asked by rodg 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes.
The speed of light is constant. Most people don't appreciate how constant it actually is.
Let us assume that I am standing on the earth. Relative to my referance frame, you move at the speed of light (186,000 miles/sec).
However, from your referance frame (which is moving away from mine at 186,000 miles/sec), light is STILL MOVING AT THE SAME SPEED: 186,000 miles/sec. So, regardless of the speed you are moving, you will still see a shadow.
Of course, as several people already mentioned, you would already be an infinite amount of mass from my reference frame, so it's not really worth the discussion.
2006-12-19 12:36:42 · answer #1 · answered by Caliph Of Norway 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anthony S makes sense. Anything with a non-zero rest mass moving at the speed of light has an infinite relativistic mass-energy, meaning you just became a black hole with an event horizon swallowing up the whole universe. Very nice.
On the other hand, say you are moving at 99.9999% of light speed relative to an observer. Your side shadow would become very skinny due to the Lorentz contraction in the direction of travel. Your front-back shadow would look ok though.
2006-12-19 12:04:43 · answer #2 · answered by SAN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't travel at the speed of light, and if u were, and yes, you would have a shadow in the same was you normally do when moving.
2006-12-19 09:25:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You would not have a shadow, because you would increase to an infinite mass, devouring any source of light in existance. That's because, according to Einstein's theory of relativity, as an object accelerates, it gains mass (it does NOT lose mass, as stated in the two previous posts, I'm confident of that).
If you were to reach the speed of light, your mass would be infinite, requiring an infinite amount of energy to sustain that speed.
2006-12-19 10:31:48 · answer #4 · answered by Mickey Mouse Spears 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree with "The Serpent" and gave him a thumbs up rating. Your body would become so small and dense that it would indeed be total energy.
Your energy E... would be equal to a VERY VERY SMALL minute near zero mass... times the speed of light, squared. E=mc^2.
I just thought SOMEBODY HERE should have a colorful avatar.....bye Trevor.
OK>> IT GAINS MASS, who cares? It's a THEORY of relativity. Like you know for sure. Like I really need points in this fun game. Merry Christmas.
I agree with everyone here, especially the Caliph of Norway. 'isn't really worth a discussion'. What shape of shadow has an infinite amount of mass? Like a shady oak tree, I think Einstein said.
2006-12-19 09:43:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
if you were taveling at the speed of light, all of the matter in your body would be converted into energy. Therefore you would have no mass to disrupt any light that you come in contact with. So no you would not have a shadow
2006-12-19 09:33:35 · answer #6 · answered by serpent 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes, but not if the light that would otherwise cast the shadow was comming from the same direction you were
2006-12-19 09:28:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ahead of and away from the light source, no .
Towards the light source, yes .
2006-12-19 09:32:13 · answer #8 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋