2007-02-09 19:04:04 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
First, it will not be possible to detect a change in the speed of light . It is only possible to detect a change in ratios of other constants that have dimensions.
The speed of light c is most commonly expressed in metres (m) per second (s). Its value is c=299792458 m/s. However, the metre is defined as the distance which light travels in 1/299792458 s.If the speed of light is changing, its "value" in m/s will still be the same.
That said, if the fine structure constant (α,an important number in atomic physics, involving the charge of the electron, Planck's constant, speed of light) changes by even a small amount , then things will be significantly different.
For instance, were α to change by 4%, carbon would no longer be produced in stellar fusion. If α were greater than 0.1, fusion would no longer occur in stars.
2007-02-09 20:17:12 · answer #1 · answered by Tharu 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The speed of light is constant (in a vacuum). But assuming you had the power of God for a minute and it could be changed, ANY difference to the speed of light would make a difference.
Any change would, for example, alter the definition of the event horizon of a black hole - the point at which no matter can escape it's grip even if travelling at the speed of light, even light itself. Change the speed of light and you change what can and can't escape the black hole.
The slightest change regardless of what it is would have enormous ramifications over millions of years. This is the butterfly effect - the theory that a butterfly's decision whether or not to flap its wings in summer means the difference between calm weather or a hurricane the following winter. Changing the speed of light would literally be the difference between life and death.
2007-02-17 05:33:00 · answer #2 · answered by tcz30 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
confident, distant factors of the Universe can and do improve speedier than gentle. it incredibly is probable that almost all the Universe is increasing faraway from us speedier than gentle, and the Early Inflation theory says that back in the 1st 2nd, it multiplied even speedier. human beings say that "it incredibly is high quality because of the fact it incredibly is area that's increasing", yet regular Relativity could be interpreted such that "area" has no substance. The geometry is happen purely in spacetime activities, and it incredibly is the geometry connecting those factors in spacetime that's curved. of direction in our Universe, traveling speedier than gentle is forbidden interior a domestically Lorentz physique, and the domestically flat Lorentz frames are stitched at the same time right into a curved geometric manifold, so which you're able to argue that the cost of sunshine is the cut back domestically, yet this would not keep on with between distant Lorentz frames. yet, in many situations Relativity, you have got a almost empty Universe that became almost Euclidean everywhere. if so, you have got a international coordinate equipment that had superluminal expansions interior it. If that's a organic improve the superluminal motions could no longer reason violations of causality.
2016-10-01 21:56:32 · answer #3 · answered by trapani 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Change in the speed of light is just theory, so theoritically a very small percentage is your answer. The theory has many holes as in why, if the speed of light changed, do things evolve at different rates and different times and not all at the same time? Which leads us to ask, did light change speed differently at different times and in different parts of the universe? Thereby, is light only a certain speed here and is our history and future being kept at distances from us?
2007-02-09 20:07:13 · answer #4 · answered by rdappa 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the speed of light were different then the electrostatic force would have a different strength. The fine structure constant would change. The strenght of materials would alter. The structure of atoms would be different. Molecules would bond differently. In other words, it would be profound.
It is believed that a change of less than 1% would make life impossible.
2007-02-09 19:13:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It only needs to change in a very small amount or probably in an amount only a billionth or trillionth of what it is to affect the evolution of the universe, if it does, it will result in a universe that is either too dispersed or too compact, gas or black holes, without stars or planets.
2007-02-09 19:39:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A percentage difference is actually the quantum effect.
Without it the universe could never have existed.
We live in a quantum universe[It couldn't be anything else] the imperfections at the beginning of the universe is what allowed it to evolve into what we experience and us.
2007-02-10 00:05:00 · answer #7 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Any percent. If you go way back to the beginning and change the constant, the effects of that change will resonate through the rest of time, and the differences become greater and greater over time.
2007-02-09 19:08:30 · answer #8 · answered by Mickey Mouse Spears 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I thought the speed of light is a constant?
2007-02-09 19:08:27 · answer #9 · answered by MenifeeManiac 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
At 101% change in the speed because boos are the centre of universe gravitation. lol.
2007-02-09 19:43:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋