Consider this before you answer. You are stationary and a light is blinkng once every minute. If it were moving away from you at the speed of light how much time would pass between eash blink. If it then acceleratd to 2x or more then the speed of light would you even see the blinking light at all. Then in reverse, if it were moving towards you at the speed of light what is the amount of time between each blink you would see in comparison?
2007-04-14 19:52:33 · 11 answers · asked by Just FYI Guy 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Consider this before you answer. You are stationary and a light is blinkng once every minute. If it were moving away from you at the speed of light how much time would pass between eash blink. If it then acceleratd to 2x or more then the speed of light would you even see the blinking light at all. Then in reverse, if it were moving towards you at the speed of light what is the amount of time between each blink you would see in comparison?
Ok people I know this question is not completely scientific sound. Its is meant to be more along the lines of a threoretical nature. I do like all these answers, I see I may need to be either more or less specific when presenting a question, like using the word "IF"
2007-04-14 23:10:22 · update #1
Einstein tells us that we cannot move faster than the speed of light. Something to do with a paradox of relativity that makes it seem that light always travels at the speed of light relative to the observer.
2007-04-14 20:04:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, now you have just suggested a real hard problem to solve. Given that the flashlight blinks every minute...
How long is the flashlight beam "on" for each blink?
That is very important for us to be able to solve the question and you failed to tell us that precise item of information.
Also, you failed to tell us if we were facing toward the flashlight, or facing 180 degrees away from the flashlight and expecting it come over the horizon at any second.
Most important of all is the color of light that this flashlight produces. We need to be able to differentiate the flashlight light from starlight, moonlight, and navigational lights in the area.
Last, but not the least important is the exact amount of time since sunset that your experiment will occur, and the date, and year of the experiment. We certainly don't want to be confused or blinded by Sunlight or sudden appearance of the Moon within the flashlight light path. Traveling at two times the 186,000 Miles per second speed of light, that flashlight beam is going to be pretty darn dim, pretty darn fast.
With all this information in hand I can calculate the problem and produce a solution.
2007-04-14 20:10:40 · answer #2 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to popular opinion, Einstein's field equations don't say you can't travel faster than the speed of light, just that you can't accelerate up to the speed.
In any case, any kind of material travelling faster is not composed of any normal kind of matter or energy, so the question becomes as meaningless as "what would a dog do if it was a potato".
2007-04-14 22:37:01 · answer #3 · answered by Sum guy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you will see the beam of sunshine provided that the flashlight is likewise traveling on the value of sunshine. wherein case the gentle from the bulb is traveling two times the value of sunshine. If the flashlight is sitting nonetheless as you commute, you does no longer see the gentle in any respect.
2016-10-03 00:30:47 · answer #4 · answered by bebber 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wil be behind you, hald way .
light speed has been calculated in 300,000 kilometers per second.
If you are travelling at twice that speed (which is physically impossible) you would be traveling at 600,000 kilometers per second...in the first second, tou will be 300,000 kilometers AHEAD, of the theoretical light beam from any source, andthe normal light of the torch or any other light, will be 300,000 kilemeters BEHIND you.
It will never reach you, so You will not be able to see it...even for a blink ...
2007-04-14 20:01:05 · answer #5 · answered by Sehr_Klug 50 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't have a scientific answer to an unscientific question. All of the energy in the universe isn't enough to propel one electron to the speed of light.
2007-04-14 20:40:12 · answer #6 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would show up first and the beam would take twice as long to get there. but is it even possible to move 2x speed of light? and it would all happen to fast to even comprehend.
2007-04-18 08:25:42 · answer #7 · answered by Jason S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, you can't move at 2x the speed of light.
Second, it depends on which way you shine it.
Ok not realy, if you were moving at anything past the speed of light it would shine behind you, but you would never see it.
2007-04-14 19:57:18 · answer #8 · answered by eviljebus 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you would not see it
2007-04-14 19:56:38 · answer #9 · answered by survival of the sexiest 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In front of you, the beam would have the same forward momentum as you
2007-04-18 08:44:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋