Say i was traveling on a beam of light (of course at speed c) and i take out my mirror and i look at myself!
As the speed of light is constant in any frame i would see my reflection in the mirror. That is because i too would see light travel at speed c relative to me.
But my question is what would an outside observer (in a stationary frame) see? He would see both me and the light beams(which were relfected from my face) both travel at the same speed right?
So from his point if view would he be able to see my face in the mirror? ( i think he will see me and the light reflections from my face travel together)
2007-01-23 02:01:21 · 7 answers · asked by sh 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
speed of light is faster than the eye can see, so they wouldn't see you at all.
2007-01-23 02:05:09 · answer #1 · answered by Blunt Honesty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a good example of a thought experiment. Like with most SciFi movies, we have to leave our reality check at the ticket counter before we go in. In other words, we have to discount or ignore all of the reasons this scenario cannot exist in reality. That being said:
You are correct that the speed of light is constant in any frame - so you would experience no strange phenomenon in your own reference while gawking in the mirror.
An outside observer, on the other hand, would see no strange goings on either - since all speeds are relative. It's a tough concept to grasp, but you would observe the other reference as going at this great velocity with his clock running exceedingly slow - and he would observe you exactly the same way, noting that it is your clock that's running slow. And both of your conclusions would be absolutely valid!
2007-01-23 02:22:40 · answer #2 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you couldn't travel at the speed of light.........
but in theory, yes i think he would, as light is just traveling at the same speed as you, but also faster. its because space and time will adapt to keep the speed of light constant (according to Einstein). so yes he would see your face in the mirror. if u could amass a near infinite amount of energy to get to the speed of light, and assuming he even saw the mirror at that speed.
2007-01-23 02:09:55 · answer #3 · answered by kizerking 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At that speed an observer would see you with zero thickness along with anything moving with you. You and the mirror would be flat and one and the same with no dimension in the direction you were traveling because of Lorentz dilation of length. Here's something on length contraction .....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length_contraction
2007-01-23 02:06:16 · answer #4 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, you cant travel at the speed of light
second, there can be no such mirror which is of a size of a photon
third, you can't have so small clothes
fourth, life is unsupported in these kinds of situations
2007-01-23 02:06:48 · answer #5 · answered by Mikhil M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He would have to be travelling as fast as you to be able to see you and your mirror. If not, he would never see you at all. So , he would see what you see
2007-01-23 02:06:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a stationary observer wouldnt see you at all. you flew by at LIGHT SPEED! did you miss that part?
2007-01-23 02:05:09 · answer #7 · answered by Tim 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋