2007-06-13 08:09:48 · 10 answers · asked by MAD MOMMA 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Although the value of c appears to be enormous when compared with conventional traveling speeds, it suggests a limit which renders a practical realization of interstellar travel improbable.
2007-06-13 08:14:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything in Nature has a limit. Speed, weight, size, height, mass, you name it, there is a limit. There is nothing smaller than sub-atomic particles. That is the apparent limit in the universe. So going to the other extreme, suns and planets and black holes all have a limit in size that they can't go beyond. If they did, it would probably tear the universe apart. And we would go down with it.
2007-06-13 15:25:42 · answer #2 · answered by kvnh2os 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The speed of light may be the speed of the expanding universe. It may have something to do with an unknown property of the vacuum of space not understood yet. One of the characteristics of science is that the underlying why of things is rarely known, especially in physics.
2007-06-14 14:06:53 · answer #3 · answered by Joline 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the speed of light = 299 792 458 m / s
This is how fast the speed of light will always be, relative to oneself. Einstein showed us with his theory of relativity that if you are moving towards the speed of light then it does not pass you at a greater rate, but instead passes you at the same speed. If you are going 100,000m/s with the light then the light in relativity to you will still pass you at 299,792,458. This is how time travel is assumed to plausible. There is a really nice youtube video on this
http://youtube.com/watch?v=V7vpw4AH8QQ
2007-06-13 15:17:31 · answer #4 · answered by EB1285 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Photons have a rest mass of zero. Their only mass is due to their momentum (speed). As they travel faster, therefore, their mass increases. As the mass increases so does the amount of energy it takes to increase the acceleration. Eventually you will reach at point at which there simply is no more energy available. At this point, you can travel no faster. That is the speed of light - 186, 000 miles per second.
2007-06-13 16:21:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. It is not so much that light can only achieve a certain speed, it's more that space (and time) force light to go at that speed. Only massless particles act this way.
2007-06-13 15:13:36 · answer #6 · answered by Cirric 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that maybe nothing can ever go ifinitly fast. Especialy light.
2007-06-13 15:17:41 · answer #7 · answered by Flintstoner 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All measurements and expriments return the same number. Therefore we have to accept it and explaing things using that fact
2007-06-13 15:14:29 · answer #8 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is no particular reason, it's just the way it is.
2007-06-16 17:27:06 · answer #9 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Black Holes slow it down
2007-06-13 15:13:09 · answer #10 · answered by Samantha 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋