Why is light the fastest thing possible??

Question

what was the premise and argument or proof that led to such an assumtion/conclusion.

not to insult anyone's work or carreer etc..
but I hardly believe scientists (or anyone) know why the universe exsists, or from whence it came other than an 'arbitrary' big bang concept etc...
infact, I hear of findings of many 'non local' anomalies as the study of science deepens, (as in quantum mechanics as only an example)

so how then should we go about casting such limits?

please tell me their grounds or basis for this.
thanks.

Also, if we know absolutely nothing about anything shorter than planks lenght, how could we ever make any such universal "decree(s)" ?

Answer 1

The world of science distorts reality.

Science only considers what is proven as "real". What is "real" actually consists of what has been proven, what has yet to be proven and what will never be proven. Science's view of reality misses 2/3rds of the pie chart and is distorted.

Answer 2

It might not be. Consider two photons emanating from the same space and time moving away from each other both at the speed of light. When one changes polarity, so does the other. Einstein labeled that "spooky science". Quantum Physics has proved the fact. Sounds like the spiritual and science converge. In other words, there is a distinct possibility that there is another binding force that travels faster than the speed of light. Simple physics on a macro scale breaks down at the atomic level. Physics as we know it does not exist sub-atomically. That might lead one to conclude that our conception of the atom itself might be totally wrong. Why not? At one time scientists/religious leaders thought Earth was the center of the universe. Wrong. Though matter might not be able to go faster than the speed of light, what might? Einstein's spooks?

Answer 3

The Light Speed Limit comes from the Michelson-Morley experiment which observes that light appears to have same velocity REGARDLESS of the velocity of the observer.

This means if I am sitting in space watching you zip by at 9”/nanosecond, and I fire a 12”/nanosecond light photon at you, you will observe the photon passing you at 12”/nanosecond, rather than the 3”/nanosecond rate that I see it passing you at.
The only way for you to see this photon passing you at 4 times the rate it’s actually traveling is if your velocity somehow slows how fast time is passing for you. Also by this reasoning your time would stop if you actually reached lightspeed. Now if you reject the idea of being able to accelerate to a velocity where time stops, then as you approach light speed, the energy of acceleration must be going somewhere besides velocity . Mass is the only other variable in the kinetic energy equation soo.....

Einstein’s theory of relativity holds that objects are prevented from exceeding lightspeed because their time will slow to zero and their mass will rise to infinity as they approach it.

Observations regarding clocks on rockets and particle accelerators have matched his predictions.

Is light the fastest thing possible? Who knows? It’s a big universe. Can we go faster than light? Not with out some serious bending of the Physical laws.

Answer 4

You're right. we don't know why the universe exists or from whence it came but we do know that matter cannot go through space at light speed. Einstein's famous equation E=mc^2 means that matter becomes more massive when it has more energy. If you had a space ship that could go very very fast you'd find that the faster you go the more energy it takes to go even faster. It would take an infinite amount of energy to accelerate to light speed so that's the speed limit. Special relativity has been verified many times in many ways and nobody's ever shown it to be wrong.

Answer 5

The limits or finiteness's is what physics searches for. A proper physicist does not 'cast'' facts but wants objective truth of his or her activity. The velocity of light was questioned and a means sought for its measure. In the theoretical domain within physics, there is something faster than light or wave-particles (photons) named tachyons. What led to the assumption that light velocity was the limit in speed for anything was the theoretical necessity for proving otherwise, to propel something else to a velocity greater than the estimated velocity for light. The mass of fuel required to propel an atomic structure would be an ever increasing requirement for the added fuels mass for its mechanism. The problem was predicting the subatomic structure reaction that its self is determined by relative speeds of it parts within its self and the external universe. But, there is no reason assume it is impossible, only problematic.

Answer 6

For the same reason that you able to draw the conclusions that you did.

Light is not even the fast thing possible. The fastest thing known and the fastest thing possible are two very different statements linguistically, qualitatively and quantitatively.

It's our sloppy use of the language that leads to such misunderstandings and declarations or decrees.

Answer 7

This question should REALLY be in the Physics section, but here we go.

First of all, you have to realize that strange things happen as you come to the speed of light. A lot of people, becuse of Star Trek, know about time dilation- that as the speed of light increases, time slows down for the observer. What a lot of people don't ALSO know is that as this happens (and part of the reason WHY time dilates), is that MASS increases geometrically as well.

Therefore, the closer to the speed of light you get, the bigger you get (specifically, along a linear projection), and the 'heavier' you get.

Now, we all agree that it takes a certain amount of energy to accelerate an object. Thus, it takes more energy to move feathers than bricks. Right? Right.

So, as an object increases its speed, its also getting heavier. This makes it harder to accellerate. Thus, as you get closer and closer to 'C' (C=the Speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second) your mass approaches infinity. So, to move AT the speed of light would mean that an object had infinite mass, and require infinite energy to accelerate.

So why can Light move at C? Well, light is a particle/wave formation that HAS NO MASS. Thus, it is able to move at a speed that NO OTHER object in the universe could move at- because every other object in the universe has mass.

Thus, NOTHING but light can travel at C.

If you wish, I can also give you mathematical proof as well, but this is as good a discussion in layspeak as any.

If you are interested in learning more, try looking at wikipedia's article on Special and General Relativity.

William

Answer 8

My gosh. right here we've a self taught logician with PhD in Physics and Quantum Mechanics. If there is something swifter than the cost of sunshine, could desire to you please supply us its call and define; speed as measured on your lab = ??? Miles consistent with 2nd. "Why the Universe exists?" What a profound question with implications previous mind's eye. Who could comprehend the answer to one in each and every of those profound question? Are we to assume which you do? "Whence the Universe got here from?" Ah, you prefer to correctly known what there replaced into in the previous the start of each and every thing? and you assume there is somebody alive immediately who can answer that question with surety and information? you may desire to be smoking some somewhat reliable stuff. as a results of fact the learn of technological awareness deepens we learn further and extra. some issues we learn are composed of issues that are no longer totally understood. that's a ingredient of the tutorial technique, and has continually been so. have been you approximately to proportion some new discovery or perception with us? Or, are you purely Poo Poo - ing on the entire scientific study container usually? in the previous going into any great element with you that's important for us to correctly known the optimal quantity of your coaching so as that we can talk with you on equivalent words. have you ever, case in point, executed your Masters degree, or Doctorate degree at a important college or college? And what replaced into your important please?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Answer 9

I believe I read that light is not the fastest if you break it down into spectrum's other waves with-in for instance Microwaves look like waves if you straighten that wave out it would go further. Look it up on-line I am sure it is on there somewhere, and I will check out some of my science books

Answer 10

You want a dissertation on Special Relativity, General Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Electrodynamics and String Theory. I take it you've had a graduate course in Tensor Analysis and Transcendental Calculus. I think not!