Am I correct in theorizing that if its instantaneous then you just moved information faster than the speed of light? Does the length of the string really matter?
2007-02-10 01:08:01 · 7 answers · asked by bobdubay 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
ok maybe string is a bad example, lets say something that dont stretch and your in deep space with no friction or weight.
2007-02-10 05:09:15 · update #1
the same speed that the pulled end moves, provided the "string" does not stretch , the whole string will move at the same speed.
2007-02-10 01:21:04 · answer #1 · answered by cherokeeflyer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to pretend that the string doesn't stretch, then yes you've transmitted information faster than the speed of light. But that's impossible. It's also impossible to find a material that doesn't stretch.
If it DOES stretch, then you're back to the wave theory of the other answers (speed of sound). Or, the 9 inches displacement is totally absorbed by the stretching of the string and the other end NEVER moves!
2007-02-15 12:12:03 · answer #2 · answered by Jay-Dawg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It moves with the same speed, but later. The movement is transmitted as a wave, so it is not instantaneous and has nothing to do with the speed of light. The velocity of the wave's transmission is v=sqrt(linear density/Young's constant) (transversal wave), and the delay in transmission is t=L/v, where L is the length of the string. The length matters... for a longer string, the delay will be more significant.
2007-02-10 09:15:21 · answer #3 · answered by Ioana 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The other end would NOT move one bit until the force from your pull reached it. AND THIS FORCE IS TRANSMITTED THRU ELECTRONS in the string. Electron forces are what hold that string together. Matter chemistry wise and Physics wise is only a bunch of electron forces. Therefore in therory only, your pull would travel at speed of light 186,000MPH
1/ (186,000 x 5280)= sec per foot and that x9/12 = your answer
2007-02-10 11:37:31 · answer #4 · answered by James M 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The fact that you pulled the string will have to propagate down the string at the speed of sound in the string.
2007-02-10 09:25:24 · answer #5 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the other end moves at the same speed that you pull it because you cannot pull the string at the speed of light
2007-02-10 09:17:38 · answer #6 · answered by Mon-chu' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope the string streches at a much lower rate
2007-02-10 11:03:16 · answer #7 · answered by walter_b_marvin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋