I believe that at a certain accelerated speed that physical material passes through other physical material rather than collides. So, this means you could pass through an entire planet or star traveling at such a speed. Wishful thinking, or possibility?
2007-03-19 20:50:12 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Einstein's theory of special relativity states that as objects approach the speed of light, their mass increases. Mathematically he proved that an object that travelled at the speed of light would have infinite mass. So, he concluded that is was impossible to travel at the speed of light.
Now, is it possible to appear to travel beyond the speed of light? Theories have been presented that you can travel faster than light by taking a different path than light. That is, light travels in space, but if you are able to bend space, or travel outside of the spatial plane, you could cover a specific distance more quickly than light could cover that distance.
Think of it as if you were trying to travel the length of a piece of paper. Light would have to stay on the paper, but if you could fold the paper in half, you could get from one end to the other by travelling a much shorter distance.
Then the question is, how do you bend space?... Let me know if you figure that one out!
2007-03-19 21:08:11 · answer #1 · answered by Tunsa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Einstein saaid no material object can travel at the speed of light, let alone faster. Its mass increases as it nears light speed. Even all the universe converted to energy cannot accelerate an object as small as an electron to light speed. Study this subject more, and you won't ask such questions.
2007-03-20 10:37:26 · answer #2 · answered by miyuki & kyojin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it will never be possible for any physical structure on the earth. Once I mentioned in one of my answer that E=MC2 was based on the technological measurements of that time. Thereafter, we could not find any matter that is traveling faster than the speed of light. I don't understand what exactly speed of life impacts on us and why it is so important to us? All calculations of the distances (in universe) are based on the speed of light, which is not that accurate after humans realized the concept of red shift. For example, if you wish to visit our neighboring (& the nearest) Andromeda Galaxy to meet with the life like us on one of its planet and you have a spacecraft flying at 20 mps (maximum speed we have currently), it will take nearly 352 million years for you to reach there. Now, calculate this number in term of maximum human’s life (100 years?) and calculate which generation of you will reach there after 352 million years? The term "everything is possible" is famous, but not everything of that is possible. Human is very capable, but everything that human has now and in the future will not serve any major purpose. Suppose, if we find the life within our own Milky Way, exactly on the opposite edge, then that distance would be approx 120,000 light years (diameter) and the above equation of distance, speed and generation would apply here also.
Conclusion: Let continue finding an intelligent life elsewhere in the universe and it would be an easy task to watch them by any means of communication...LIVE. Other than this, there is nothing to achieve by traveling faster than the speed of light.
2007-03-20 07:18:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it will never be possible for any physical
structure on the earth.
====================
Einstein's Special Relativity Theory / Twin paradox
(time travel with speed c=1 )
does not have any relation to a astronaut.
Special Relativity Theory only examines the behaviour
of a quantum of light .
SRT/ Twin Paradox has grown from Maxwell's theory.
And only an electron/ quantum of light is a main
and single hero in the Maxwell's theory and SRT.
Twin Paradox (time travel ) has relation only to
a light quantum / electron.
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http://www.socratus.com
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2007-03-20 09:03:43 · answer #4 · answered by socratus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lightspeed, as i understand it, is possible, but it would mean that human matter ( or any matter ) would have to be turned into light. That's the part I'm skeptical about. Turning matter to light and reconfiguring it correctly upon arrival at it's destination seems a little beyond our capabilities.
But I suppose anything is possible though. In 1975 if somebody had told me I clould play chinese checkers with people from 4 different continents at the same time.... I'd have thought they were crazy. ;)
2007-03-20 03:58:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Physicists have accelerated particles to incredible speeds but they still keep on colliding. Faster than light is impossible but it doesn't stop the question being asked every week.
2007-03-20 03:54:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no reason to believe that we wouldn't be able to hit light speed one day.
E=MC(squared) has come into question as of late by the way. I'm not surprised, when I was 12 my brother explained the concept to me. I told him it would be another 10 years and people would figure out how stupid the idea really was.
2007-03-20 03:56:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jeez stop making nerdy bull **** and just give him/her a damn answer...ok the answer is no unless you can turn yourself into energy, lightspeed is obviously reallly fast and if you travel at the speed of light you'll turn into energy which is impossible.
2007-03-20 04:15:18 · answer #8 · answered by AnAmericanGuywholivesinJapan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it probably is possible and can happen
no being we know of can do this
but accordng to einsteins theory of realitvity
he says that the speed of light is the fastest thing
this has not been proven so it is just a theory
2007-03-20 06:49:32 · answer #9 · answered by dt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
30 years ago talking with mobile phone?
300 years later traveling light speed.
Vhy not.
2007-03-20 05:55:37 · answer #10 · answered by hanibal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋