I have read that if imaginary numbers are plugged into the equation then the speed of light is the MINIMUM speed an object with mass can travel. Are there any physicists who can elaborate on this? Is this possible, even in theory?
2006-12-30 09:53:47 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes, even Einstein himself was aware of the "tachyonic" range of the equations of special relativity, where particles are always faster than the speed of light, instead of slower. Interestingly enough, deBroglie waves in quantum mechanics fit the bill pretty well, even though they're conventionally not thought as anything real, but just phase velocities.
Addendum: Just because "imaginary" numbers are used in physics equations does not mean imaginary things are being dealt with. For example, electric power generation is a very real thing, it can kill you or I, but equations used for that sort of thing frequently make use of imaginary numbers.
2006-12-30 09:58:16 · answer #1 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When imaginary numbers are plugged into complex formulas, all kinds of possibilities present themselves. Some real, some not so real.
I strongly suspect the objects which you allude to with a minimum speed matching light speed belong in the second category.
I also suspect "negative" values for time and distance lengths also belong in the second "not so real" category.
None the less, the fact that we can't or haven't "discovered" such entities does not exclude the possibility of their existence - it does, however, exclude the probability.
2006-12-30 10:53:17 · answer #2 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look around you. Is the speed of light the minimum speed an object with mass can travel? Obviously no!
2006-12-30 10:09:52 · answer #3 · answered by Roman Soldier 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is an hypothetical particle named "tachyon" that is supposed to always travel faster than light, by being the imaginary root of the equation.
But the key word here is "imaginary". If those particle exist, it is not in our universe, but in a parallel one, and are thus of no use to us, unless someone finds a way of bridging the gap between parallel universes.
2006-12-30 09:59:31 · answer #4 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the fee of sunshine is persevering with, time is the variable. that's the pinnacle tornado. on the fee of sunshine an merchandise could have countless mass, no length and time will give up. loosen up, on the area station the clocks run a million a million/2 seconds sluggish over a twelve months to catch up on the fee.
2016-10-28 18:24:57 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Your first answer is good. Here is a link to tachyon particles. http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=tachyon&gwp=16 Second answer is good as well.
2006-12-30 10:00:13 · answer #6 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋