Anybody think we already have it secretly?
2007-02-01 14:49:02 · 5 answers · asked by thepaladin38 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
We will probably never reach the speed of light - and certainly never exceed it.
Good ol' Albert Einstein's formulas simply break down (division by zero, the square root of a negative number and so forth) when V (velocity) equals or exceeds C (the speed of light.)
His formulas have stood the high tech and rigorous experimentation, observation and test of time for over a hundred years - there's no reason to think they'll suddenly become invalid at the speed of light.
Actual experiments have accelerated sub atomic particles to very close to the speed of light - but, as predicted by you-know-who, at speeds close to that of light, the amount of energy needed to accelerate it even faster becomes enormous - exactly in proportion to Einstein's formula.
Better we investigate warping space, worm holes or perhaps get a better handle on just exactly what "time" is rather than pursue the idea of breaking the light speed barrier.
No "secrets" - just plain physical laws.
2007-02-01 16:08:38 · answer #1 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be able to surpass the speed of light, a theory to explain ho this can be so would have to be devised, way before a working machine to do it can be constructed. At the level of working out such physical laws, there is nothing that can (or should) be kept secret as the amount of work to develop a theory like that would involve so many people all over the world, it would be common knowledge.
No theories have been made yet. Everyone who knows enough about physics still maintain that the speed of light is the maximum we can do. Conjecture (unproven) are mentioning the possibility of warping space so that, while still traveling at a speed less than that of light, the distance between two points is somewhat reduced; but the means of achieving a warp of space is mere speculation.
So, I would say the chance that we secretly have faster than light somewhere and are keeping it secret is zero.
2007-02-01 22:59:01 · answer #2 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you believe modern physics, you can't reach the speed of light. Basically, as you approach the speed of light, the mass of an object keeps increasing. E=mc^2 then comes into play. If the mass keeps increasing, you need more and more energy to go faster. You go faster, the mass increases, requiring more energy. It's a vicious theoretical cycle.
2007-02-01 23:03:40 · answer #3 · answered by lango77 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think Elvis and Amelia Earhart (who live in Tijuana) have the secret equations that make such travel possible, along with the cure for cancer, and a new Vanilla Ice cd. Problem is, it is all in Spanish, so we are pretty much screwed.
2007-02-01 22:57:11 · answer #4 · answered by radioflyer 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in space it is the only place i think there is even a slight chance of man ever going the speed of light .
i think that as far as space ships go man is about equal to the first people who had horses and wagons on earth .
we have a long way to go .
2007-02-01 22:55:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋