2007-07-02 19:34:39 · 11 answers · asked by i_am_here_now2 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
One of the postulates or axioms (which can be a fact, or an assumption) In Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity is that the speed of light is constant. And, according to this (1905) theory, no information or material object can travel faster than the speed of light. It's an emergent property of the universe.
The general theory of relativity also supports this. Both special and general relativity have a lot of evidence and are fully supported by scientists. But... Newton's theory of gravitation was widely accepted until Einstein came along...
Entangled photons are fascinating, but as yet they do not give the ability to send information faster than c. They allow two independent observers to see the same event at the same time. But to actually send information, you have to use regular light speed photons for measurement, and then both parties must get in touch (at light speed) to verify the results!
2007-07-02 23:10:57 · answer #1 · answered by tmikepitt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not that light speed is the highest speed because light is somehow special or magical. There is some highest speed that things can go, which we usually call 'c'. Nothing can go faster than 'c'.
You can also show that nothing with mass can go as fast as 'c'. So things like electrons and protons, atoms and spaceships all go slower than 'c'. Light, however, does not have mass. Therefore, it can go at 'c'. Sometimes light goes slower than 'c', for example, if it moves through air or water or glass. In empty space, light travels at exactly 'c'.
Since it's easier to say "the speed of light" than 'c' all the time, most people use the two as if they were the same, when they really aren't. The highest possible speed is 'c'; the speed of light in vacuum is also 'c'; therefore, the speed of light in vacuum is the highest possible speed.
2007-07-03 12:04:22 · answer #2 · answered by Xerxes314 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Light is defined as electromagnetic radiation between certain wavelengths. Light isn't instantaneous....it takes a certain period of time for light to travel from one point to another. Somewhere around 186,000 miles per second(in a vacuum). When you look up at the sky and see a star that is 100 light years away, you are looking at the star as it looked 100 years ago. But the problem with traveling faster than light is that if it were possible you could travel past light waves that were emmited from longer and longer periods of time ago. Travelling in to the past! It's really a tough question to answer. It's all based on theory. But light, like all matter, is still subject to the laws of physics such as gravity. The intense gravitational pull of a black hole is so great that light can be bent quite dramatically if it comes within the vacinity of a black hole or possibly even consumed never to reflect back in to space again.
2007-07-03 02:42:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isn't.
But most people have been indoctrinated now into thinking that it is.
Several experiments have broken the speed of light barrier.
For example:
Look up Bell's inequalities and the experiments upon intertwined photons. When a photon gets split into two photons in this experiment, each new photon is still attached to the other photon EVEN if they fly in opposite directions! When one photon gets altered, the other photon is altered simultaneously even though it is NOWHERE near the first one! The transfer of this information across space is many times faster than the speed of light! and will eventually be made into quantum computers maybe 80 or 90 years from now.
2007-07-03 02:37:28 · answer #4 · answered by special-chemical-x 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God wants to remove darkness from everywhere quickly.. So He blessed light with the highest speed.
2007-07-03 02:50:27 · answer #5 · answered by J.SWAMY I ఇ జ స్వామి 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The looking-color-habit is the most serious of vesion, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching, for which a man would lose him feelling without vesion, he should hang on vesion. If he hanged on too tight, the light would be losed, the hight speed may be 0 or â for him.
2007-07-03 03:05:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because mankind has created formulas for everything and according to our rules, C is the fastest. But if you could move faster the light, you could see the past. If you could move backwards faster than light, it would appear that everything is rewinding. How cool would that be.
2007-07-03 02:38:47 · answer #7 · answered by nr91326 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not the highest speed... so I dont know how to answer your question.
2007-07-03 02:40:15 · answer #8 · answered by Chris 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a consequence of the Special Theory of Relativity. And the first responder is not correct.
2007-07-03 02:38:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
its not... some air crafts can travel faster than the speed of light... but if your talking about sound and stuff yea it is
2007-07-03 02:38:59 · answer #10 · answered by Blondie 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋