2007-05-26 10:59:38 · 9 answers · asked by daniel_ 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Nothing that travels at a velocity less than that of light can obtain or exceed the speed of light. But that doesn't mean there can't exist something that has and maintains a velocity greater than that of light.
BTW The formation of the Universe at the onset of the Big Bang (if such a thing did occur) is a special case, in that the physical Universe didn't actually exist as such and so neither did any 'laws' governing the velocity of objects within it.
2007-05-26 11:03:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plenty of things exceed the speed of light.
For instance, if you shine your flashlight on the moon, then with a mere flick of your wrist, you can cause the light spot on the moon to zip across it at greater than the speed of light. You could arrange people in a line, telling them at exactly what time they should stand up, to generate a stadium "wave" that would travel faster than light.
What can't go faster than light is energy, matter, or information. Shining your flashlight on the moon and flicking your wrist doesn't send any energy, matter, or information from one side of the moon to the other; and setting up the "wave" requires preparation ahead of time.
There are some experiments now being done in which something moves faster than light--- but it's not matter or energy and it's something less than information. (It's the "collapse of the wave function")
Matter, energy, and information cannot travel faster than light, because when something travels faster than light, different observers disagree on whether the dearture or the arrival occurred first, and this would violate the law of cause and effect.
2007-05-26 18:16:25 · answer #2 · answered by ZikZak 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It must be. For the first 10^-33 seconds after the big bang, the universe went from nothing to the size of a basketball. This is faster than light can travel 1nm.
2007-05-26 18:12:33 · answer #3 · answered by Kitsune Kage 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Some scientists and others believe it. Check the source of what you "heard". Always view unusual claims with skepticism. People love to spread misinformation, especially on the Internet.
2007-05-26 18:03:46 · answer #4 · answered by Renaissance Man 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Apparently you have seen or heard some banter about tachyons. This wikipedia entry and some of the links therein will give you some more information about these strange hypothetical particles.
2007-05-26 19:36:16 · answer #5 · answered by devilsadvocate1728 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely.
2007-05-26 18:45:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this is 100% true.
2007-05-26 19:01:47 · answer #7 · answered by butterscotch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is true, theoretically although it can't be accomplished out of paper.
2007-05-26 18:03:14 · answer #8 · answered by dizzy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
it is true
2007-05-26 18:01:46 · answer #9 · answered by blah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋