Do you think we can create a traveling space machine that can go as fast as the speed of light?

Question

Do you think we can create a traveling space machine that can go as fast as the speed of light?

Basically what I'm asking is, Can we harness the power of light and use it to our advantage to make machines go faster or at least become more efficient?

Thanks in advance!

I'm actually thinking perhaps a small 'atomic bomb' or something that propulses a space vehicle quite fast. (equal but opposite reaction)
I really think this is possible if we actually *try* hard enough. I haven't seen anyone try but I've heard of plenty of theories...and I still believe it's possible!
If you have any theories of your own, or you have any kind of, idk, characteristic sketches of a future space vehicle please answer thoroughly. Thanks.

Answer 1

I disagree with the first answerer. For one thing, few people have ever thought the world was flat. That is a myth. Even a medieval farmer knew the world was round, just by looking out over the horizon. Ancient Greeks and Arabs even went so far as to fairly accurately estimate the size of the globe, and historians have long since proven that Columbus did not prove that the world was round. In 1492, hardly an educated person on earth believed it was flat. Obviously the first answerer did not know this. So who is ignorant now?

That said, to think that we will ever be able to fly the speed of light is like saying that a baby will someday be able to survive having a 50 ton anvil dropped on their head. I could be wrong, but the statistical possibility is so slim, I am hardly ignorant for believing this. Perhaps it is feasible, IF we can ever come up with the materials that could withstand the immense forces we are talking about, to create a unmanned vessel that might be able to do it. There is no way to make the human body able to resist those forces, however, and factor in costs and resources, then manned speed of light IS impossible. You'll be hard pressed to find a respectable scientist that will say otherwise.

That said, what you ask at the end is very intriguing! Light is obviously a really powerful and unique energy. Perhaps it IS possible to harness light in a way that will improve the speed and efficiency of machines. Solar energy is already beginning to do just that, and if we could ever wean ourselves off of oil, the sky is the limit. Traveling at the speed of light is not possible, but faster and more efficient machines is an absolute positive likelihood.

I'll concede time travel to anyone who knows more about it. In theory, it is possible, though in reality it seems dubious at best. I do not personally comprehend the concepts to formulate my own opinion on it, so maybe it is a possibility! In any case, thanks for asking such a smart question!

Answer 2

Just an opinion, but connot see why the speed of light or faster cannot be passed. If somethigh were accelarating constantly with no resistance of space would it not eventually not only get to, but if still accelarating pass the speed of light. As for the forces THEY say would tear us apart, would not the same thing happen as in a car travaling at high speed, those inside can see how fast they are going, but untill they stick a hand out the window can`t really feel the wind or volicity, so I say as long as ship is built to withstand forces, should be no or not much problem for passengers.

Answer 3

No it's not possible-at least not based on anything we know now. The idea is based on Einsteins theory of Special Relativity (SR). Without going into the math (which gets extremely complicated- even most physicists don't truly understand it), the idea is actually based on a few concepts. One is that time is relative, this means that as you move very quickly (approaching speeds near that of light (c)), time actually slows down, distances get longer and mass decreases. This is due to the relationships he found between mass and energy. Ensitein hypothesized that space and time are not absolute and that massive objects actually warp them. If you are able to move at the speed of light (which is not psychically possible-your body would completely disintegrate even at a a molecular level), you cause instability in space and time and could potentially warp backwards. If there were some way to take a map of all the atoms in your body at a given instant (which is not doable based on quantum theory), then re-map it and transfer this data back in time, it could be done. But this is really really really far-fetched and not actually possible for a huge number of reasons. We don't even know what gives atoms mass yet. Something that may, (a big may) be possible is transmitting individual particles through time and space instantly. At most we could transmit signals in space instantly which would be really cool. There are so many complexities with these ideas that's really hard to explain but that's the very basic ideas. One is the energy required to do this would be incredible. As awesome as it would be, time travel is not possible based on what we know. Who knows though, even the impossible may change in the future. Like I said we still don't know what gives atoms mass. With what we know now, it's not possible and there are no theories suggesting a human could travel in time. Who knows what the future will hold, nothing is indefinitely impossible. But for now, and likely the next millennium, (if we survive), its not possible. I would worry about if we will have fish in the next 30-40 years as opposed to time travel.

Answer 4

Well, since it's a physical impossibility for an object of mass to reach the speed of light, no, we will never go the speed of light or even close to it for that matter.

There are some ideas for crafts that will be able to reach very high speeds, though. Even millions of miles per hour.

Also, it might be possible to travel faster than light all together by distorting the fabric of space time. If you could bend space such that the distance between you and your destination is shortened, you could get there much faster than light would normally without ever violating the laws of physics.

Answer 5

I think eventually we can, but the problem with traveling the speed of light is less the power it would take to do so, and more the consequences if we did. If we were to travel the speed of light, we could explore many galaxies in a matter of months. But what would we come home to? Just because it months for the traveler, it would be years and years on Earth.

Answer 6

Not with current knowledge or technology to go faster then the speed of light. But the use of reflective material and or solar cells could help in the over all function of the craft in speed and power. The vacuum of space would help enhance the function of the cells and sails.

Answer 7

I must rule out the possibility,it will never be done.
The speed of light is an incident that takes a certain amount of time.
Time is a quantum entity and can only be divided so small,after that it will go out of existence.
To increase the speed of light you would have to force it to exist for a period of time that cannot exist.

Answer 8

Present belief says to travel the speed of light is not possible , But I believe anyone that rules out the possibility completely is at ignorant as those who once thought the world was flat.

Answer 9

Only if you want to rewrite the way the universe operates. You cannot travel at the speed of light.

Answer 10

when the sunlight hits you it bounces off and spreads out into the Galaxy
if you got going at the speed of light you would turn into energy
if you could gather the light that hit you when you where born and if you could get going faster than the speed of light(and stay in one piece) you could see yourself when you were born.

that's the closest thing to time travel while staying within the realm of logic