2007-06-26 15:50:29 · 6 answers · asked by m_d 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Fascinating to contemplate! As you approached an illuminated object, you would be closing with its image at twice C. AS you moved away, the departing relative speed with the image of the object would be zero.
Now for the disappointment.
The guys who realy appear to know your answer will probably tell you that at relativistic speeds, Newtonian laws don't work. Actually the Newtonian laws probably are erroneous at normal speeds but the error is just too small to worry about. At the speed you are considering, our reason betrays us and the universe gets really strange.
It is fun to think about it though, especially without the math!
2007-06-26 16:02:23 · answer #1 · answered by Doofus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brilliant question! If you were riding on a particle of light you would be moving at the approximate speed of 186,282 miles per second! At this speed, everything would have appeared to stop, you would take on what could best be described as, an eternal state, for time ceases to exist at this speed. Let's say you were age 25 when you left earth, and proceeded to travel at the speed of light straight out into space for 100 years. Then you turned around and traveled back to earth--another 100 years. Upon your return you would find that you are still 25 years old, but 200 years would have passed on earth, and all of your family and friends were long dead and buried, the earth being populated with an entire new generation of people. For at the speed of light--your flesh becomes non-physical, and is therefore not susceptible to the aging process. And so riding upon a particle of light--at the speed of light--would cause you to see, and experience eternity.
2007-06-26 23:20:26 · answer #2 · answered by Guy E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is that question that prompted Einstein to develop his theories of relativity. At the speed of light, time stops and distance shrinks to zero. The answer is, that you have to divide by zero to write the math that would answer that question.
2007-06-26 23:01:41 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to the 'front', you'd see a blue blur, as from your frame of reference, you're moving in a specific direction, as you'd look to the rear, you'd see a red blur, all due to the doppler effect...
2007-06-26 22:58:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they would appear smaller than normal. That is if your eyes could see at billions of frames per second.
2007-06-26 22:53:55 · answer #5 · answered by Vacationer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rather blurry, I would think.
2007-06-27 11:34:49 · answer #6 · answered by Larry M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋