If you have 2 space ships, each traveling at 1/2 the speed of light towards each other, wouldn't they be closing the gap at the speed of light.
2007-02-04 23:10:42 · 9 answers · asked by Yetti 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
the speed of light isn't relative to anything. it behaves the same way within your frame or reference no matter how fast you are moving. "closing the gap" wouldn't be measured in the way you are thinking. the gap would be becoming smaller at a rate of 3x10^9 m/s but that doesn't mean anything. they could both be going at 0.75c and the gap would be closing at a rate of 1.5c. this still means nothing. when people say "nothing can go faster than light" they mean that no THING can go faster than light.
actually, tho, the rate would be a bit higher than 1c if they were moving toward each other at 0.5c, due to length contraction at relativistic velocities (depending on your frame of reference)
2007-02-04 23:21:11 · answer #1 · answered by Dashes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You (the "stationary" witness) would see the ships closing at the speed of light - but each ship would NOT measure the other ship's speed as the speed of light (which is the counter-intuitive bit).
All motion is relative to the observer - at low speeds you can do the kind of arithmetic you suggest, but at higher fractions of the speed-of-light "common sense" rules no longer apply.
2007-02-04 23:19:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The gap would indeed be closing at that speed or faster if you like. But a gap is not a physical thing and so isn't bound by the laws of physics.
2007-02-04 23:17:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Observational data exhibits that the fee of propogation of light via vacume is continually an similar realtive to any observer, in spite of his state of action. it truly is the considered necessary tenant of the concept of relativity. the clarification you may't flow swifter the mild stemms from the notorious E=MC2 (E- means, M- mass, C- % of light) even as an merchandise is mooving it acquires kinetic means. because, as you will see that from the eqation, means and mass are inerchangable, so the article also acquires further mass. because the "change fee" between mass is so tremendous - small quantity of mass for an vast quantity of means, the outcome isn't noticiable in wide-spread velocities. although, as you mind-set the speed of light, the article will improve a great deal in mass with each and every upward push of the speed of that is action. Now, appart from the very truth that is cruched through garvitational forces, it isn't a possibility for it to really attain the speed of light because the further huge that is the further means is nedded to make it flow swifter, and if it does flow swifter nevertheless extra means is critical to make it flow swifter nevertheless etc. there is not any longer adequate means interior the univese to make it truly flow the speed of light. mild can commute at this % because it has no mass.
2016-11-25 03:22:20 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They would be closing the gap at the speed of light but it would be a combined speed - nothing would be moving at the speed of light.
Speed is measured relative to something that is stationery.
2007-02-04 23:14:26 · answer #5 · answered by Trevor 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yeah the gap would close at the speed of light
2007-02-04 23:16:08 · answer #6 · answered by ssuasw 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It would look that way to you if you stood in the middle between them. However, if you were on one of the spaceships and did the measurements, it wouldn't turn out that way.
Special Relativity consists of giving specific formulae for that paradox and explaining why they make sense.
2007-02-05 00:39:27 · answer #7 · answered by Curt Monash 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
according to Einstein laws of relativity, you are correct. they are traveling at the speed of light relative to each other.
2007-02-04 23:17:42 · answer #8 · answered by yasser h 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes
2007-02-04 23:22:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋