would you theoretically be able to view (with a huge telescope) yourself in the past?
2007-03-20 10:38:10 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
i meant faster than the speed of light
2007-03-20 10:46:45 · update #1
Yes you can, you would arrive at this planet long before the light that you would of reflected. You could then set-up a big telescope. Point it in the direction you cam from, and a while later, see yourself arrive.
But, as you said later, you would have to travel more than the speed of light. We know that realistically this scenario you've posed is impossible but it sounds cool!
Good question
2007-03-20 12:16:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The answer is no.
Let me explain why:
It is true that when we look at distant planets from a telescope on earth we are seeing what they looked like in the past because it has taken the light a certain amount of time to reach us. Theoretically everything we see through our eyes has already happened because it takes light a split second to go from what we see to our eyes.
However, your question asks if you traveled the speed of light (the key to this question is the speed) to a distant planet and looked back at earth would you see yourself in the past. The reason why you wouldn't is because as you were traveling to the distant planet the light from earth would be traveling with you at the same speed! You would still be looking into the present once you got there and looked back on earth. However, if you travel faster than the speed of light then you can look into the past from a distant planet. :)
2007-03-20 11:02:45 · answer #2 · answered by johnny 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
The light from your pre-launch existence would already have passed.
Think about it.
You travelled at the same speed as the light that originated on your home planet at the time of lift off. That means that all the light that left the planet before that was already on its way into the cosmos. You would never catch up to it or overtake it. Thus, it would already have reached and passed the destination planet by the time you arrived.
Done.
2007-03-20 10:44:37 · answer #3 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because the light from that time has already reached your destination point and gone on by!
In order to "catch up" with previously emitted light showing you at an earlier stage of your life, you would have to EXCEED the speed of light on your LATER journey. Since that can't be done, you will not be able to "view ... yourself in the past."
Never mind. Just live long and prosper.
2007-03-20 10:43:13 · answer #4 · answered by Dr Spock 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Firstly, it is THOUGHT that you cannot travel faster than the speed of light. There really is no such thing as a totally rock solid scientific fact, after all the very essence of science is that it is all theories, and they can be disproved. There is no such thing, in my opinion, as a scientific fact which is absolutely correct, just a very very very probable theory.
So, anyway, if you could travel FASTER than the speed of light, then yes. Just like you could throw something forwards, run faster than it and look back at it.
2007-03-21 09:36:55 · answer #5 · answered by Michael 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well you would have to travel faster than the speed of light as if you just travelled at the speed of light then you would arrive at the same time as the light reflected from you.If you travelled faster than the speed of light then theoretically i would think that you would be able to view yourself in the past.
Of course i should mention that travelling at or faster than the speed of light is impossible.
2007-03-20 10:43:38 · answer #6 · answered by multiplayertim 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Einstein determined that one cannot travel AT the speed of light. It's a theoretical limit that cannot be achieved. So, the answer to your question is no.
2007-03-20 10:43:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. specific Relativity supplies you the formulation to artwork this out. An observer on each and each merchandise will see the different drawing near at a speed quicker than the two yet no longer as rapid because of the fact the cost of sunshine.
2016-10-02 11:28:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would have to exceed the speed of light to move beyond your past images and that is believed to be impossible.
2007-03-20 10:42:38 · answer #9 · answered by bvoyant 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well I guess......
wait maybe not, by the time you got there, you would have already left your home planet....
ahh I hate this stuff it gets me sooo confused
plus you can't even travel at the speed of light
2007-03-20 10:44:54 · answer #10 · answered by Megan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋