Anybody think we already have it secretly?
2007-02-01 14:48:41 · 12 answers · asked by thepaladin38 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Thomas Khun.
Although Einstein admitted that his special theory of relativity was wrong and that the speed of light is not constant, its 'law' - that nothing can be made to accelerate to, or beyond the speed of light - has, it is claimed, been ratified by particle acceleration experiments where it has been found that no matter how much energy is applied in order to make a particle accelerate to the speed of light, it cannot be made to achieve light speed. However there are certain factors that have not been taken into account in relation to these claims.
When a particle (or any object) is made to move, it incurs mass dilation (it gets 'heavier') which results in an increased amount of the Earth's gravitational force being applied to that particle. In his book Deep Space Colin Ronan depicts that phenomenon in the fashion of Diagram 1. An accelerated electron drops down to poi
2007-02-01 15:16:49 · update #1
hypothetical particles traveling at superluminal velocities such as tachyons are as to date has never been theoretically confirmed nor ruled out and its applications if ever we indeed harness its potential would be unimaginable
2007-02-01 16:22:41 · answer #1 · answered by blinkky winkky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At this point in time, our understanding of how the universe works doesn't show any way to exceed the speed of light.
But if we assume that might change (if it doesn't, your question is moot) we can still look at what we know of physics for some clues. And in fact, there are two instances in which it appears that the "light barrier" might be bypassed. One is purely theoritical at this point--the "Einstein-Rosenberg bridge" aka "wormhole." In theory, a wrmhole woud connect two different points via "hyperspace"--in effect a short cut. lightspeed wouldn't actually be achieved--but the effect would be the same. The problem is, we don't know if the theory can actually work in the real world--and not a clue how you might create a wormhole.
The other "hole" in the light barrier isn't theory--it refers to an actual event (we think). According to the most up to date information we have about the "Big Bang" the matter of which the universe is composed had to have initially been travelling faster than light--then "slowed." The reason is that the physical laws that apply to the universe now didn't hold under the special conditions that were unique (as far as we know) to the Big Bang. Again, we don't know if those conditions could be duplicated o n a small scale (say, for a starship)--much any idea at all how that might be done.
You did ask "how long" it will be before we can achieve faster-than-light travel. That's not really a question that can be answered, even by an educated guess--because, if it is possible, we don't know enough about the way the universe works yet to even speculate.
Except maybe for a minimum figure. Assuming for the sake of arguement that it's possible, we'd almost certainly have to be able to build a large, powerful (probably fusion power) ship--and even if some genius figures out a theory tomorrow that shows a way to exceed lightspeed, it s going to be a long time before we can build such a ship. I'd say a century--at a bare minimum--and probably much longer.
2007-02-01 23:19:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK. Who ever stated "Nothing that has matter can go as fast as light" is dead wrong. Light has matter. It is a particule effect. Can b easily test with microwaves an foil. The sparks coming off the foil is microwaves(light) slamming into it at the speed of light. How long before we travel faster than light? Well never. We will cheat light most likely and make distances shorter ( space bending. Read up on, especially you Yahoos that think light is not matter.
2007-02-02 00:23:05 · answer #3 · answered by bamaboy_t 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has it occurred to you that our very molecules would decompose when traveling at the speed of light? No piece of matter would be able to withstand it. Also, it is impossible to travel faster than the speed of light given that the speed of an object is directly proportionate to the total time in which it travels a distance. Traveling faster than the speed of light would ergo imply that the object is making time go backward, which we know is impossible since an eternal time loophole would form otherwise. In conclusion, learn your physics buddy. What you're describing would cause the destruction of the vehicle and/or an eternal time loophole.
2007-02-01 23:00:27 · answer #4 · answered by musical902003 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Einstein did NOT say that the speed of light changes. The speed of light is a constant, and it's the universal speed limit - you can't exceed it.
We're no where close. Our fastest spaceships/probes travel at miniscule fractions of the speed of light.
2007-02-01 23:24:52 · answer #5 · answered by eri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It will never be done even if the human race went on for thousands of years,they will never develop a way to exceed the speed of light.
2007-02-02 09:24:43 · answer #6 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nothing travels faster than light. When you consider the speed of light is over 600 million mph. If you read about relativity you will see that nothing that contains mass can reach the speed of light much less exceed it.
600,000,000 mph
our fastest plane can reach 6,000 mph if we are lucky.
2007-02-01 22:57:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Light years away! 2. No!
2007-02-01 23:07:55 · answer #8 · answered by CLICKHEREx 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 100 light years away
If we have it already, why would spend 10 years to go to mars?
2007-02-01 22:57:12 · answer #9 · answered by BryanB 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
At least as far as the Roman empire was from inventing radio. And no, I don't think anybody has it secretly already.
2007-02-01 22:57:52 · answer #10 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋