Speed of light?

Question

I have read that it is claimed that nothing can travel faster than light (except money out of my wallet!). Is there a simple explanation that a non scientist like me can understand why that should be so? It sounds rather like, for example, someone three hundred years ago saying "no one will ever travel at over 1,000mph", simply because the technology did not exist at that time.

Answer 1

We have never actually seen anything that has moved faster than light

This maybe because of two reasons

1. It does not exist
2. What we see is light falling from that object on our eyes and if the object is travelling faster than light then the light reflected from its surface will not reach us as moves away before light reaches it

The second explanation seems logically correct as no matter how advanced technology we may build, it will not be possible to overcome this drawback

This is exactly what happens

Since we cannot observe anything that travels faster than light, we have defined physics in such a way that nothing travels faster than light, so that all that we observe can be accounted for......for things that we cannot observe, this rule does not apply and neither do the laws of physics

Now when you see a moving car, it is actually the light being reflected from its surface
If the velocity of light is not constant, then it could mean that light is taking more or less time in going from our eyes to the car and then coming back by reflection
Thus, we cannot compare the speed of two cars as we will not have any reference as the light being reflected travels at different speeds

Here arises another drawback

Since we need a reference in physics to compare to, we have defined the velocity of light in vacuum to be constant so that we have a reference

Now we have light everywhere, can we say that speed is same everywhere?
No
We say speed of light in vaccum is constant
As it may change in other mediums like water and glass, which will then account for refraction of light

Thus Physics is defined in such a way that it is convenient for our use
Hence we define speed of light as constant in vacuum, as it is convenient !

Hope that answers your question

Answer 2

It's nothing to do with technology. It's a matter of principle. Anything that travels faster than light is not from this universe because it would obey different laws.

And as for Josh who says scientists have slowed down light... yeah, sure, but in what medium? Do you think you'll be able to move as fast in that same medium under the same conditions? When you make comparisons like that, do it properly. Otherwise I'd say I could outrun an F-1 Maclaren if I ran on solid ground and the car on quicksand.

Answer 3

Contrary to many of the opinions expressed here, the speed of light is not theorized as a limit simply because we have never observed anything move faster than that.

The limit arises from the theory of relativity that predicts mass and time dilation effects as one's speed approaches a universal constant "c" which is the speed of light IN A VACUUM. Yes, light slows down in other media, but the universal constant "c" does not change.

And we know that the theory of relativity has been proven reliable in experiments that show that the time and mass dilation effects can actually be measured at relativistic speeds (speeds above 0.5c). Since the predictions of the theory have been proven true, we still have confidence that the overall theory is sound.

As more measurements are performed on particles at higher velocities (0.9 c and above) which can be found in collider experiments, we may find that the theory is not quite correct and that there is a "chink" in the speed limit. But as of now, there is no way to overcome the speed limit. It's not a technological issue, it's a fundamental fact of the nature of the universe as we understand it.

Answer 4

It does seem somewhat closed minded of us to simply theorize that the speed of light is the absolute maximum speed anything can achieve. Since we have not witnessed anything moving faster, we conclude that, in fact, nothing exists that does move faster. Einstein postulated that if you achieved a speed greater than light, you would cease to exist as a single entity and become omnipotent within the universe as a whole. Light is not only an electromagnetic wave, but a particle as well. No other electromagnetic waves travel faster or slower, nor do particles, that we are aware of, though it's been claimed that a particle has been accelerated to 300,000 m/s, no proof has surfaced.

Answer 5

stable adequate. Time does now no longer flow slower for rapid products. evidently to you, assuming you would be table sure, that factor is passing slower for rapid products. If there are not any accelerations advantages - each and every little thing is continuously moving on the equivalent speeds relative to a minimum of one yet another - then there is not any thank you to tell who's moving and who's at rest. Now the twin paradox, which you style of paraphrased here, has 3 accelerations in it. you initiate from entertainment and accomplish an particularly severe velocity. After a time, you turn around this means which you sluggish down, you momentarily end, and you velocity as much as a severe velocity back. as a result you attain earth and sluggish to a stop. At each and every acceleration, you adventure a tension which the earthbound guy or woman does no longer so it is sparkling who's in stream and who's at rest. as a result, you are going to return after 10 years some time maximum powerful to seek for out that a lots longer time has exceeded on the planet. Now famous person trek assumes there is a thank you to journey exterior of the 4 dimensional area that defines the universe - the so-properly-called subspace. in this subspace, relativity does no longer save on with - that's exterior the universe quite lots - so which you will possibly desire to flow from factor to factor in a finite quantity of time and, the time it takes to traverse the hollow as measured by utilising the starship's clock might properly be the time that elapses in the universe - style of unlikely in spite of the undeniable fact that necessary in case you're writting one hour long television episodes. there is not any information for this style of holiday use in properly-properly-known guy or woman trek.

Answer 6

The velocity square of any moving mass is calculated as follows;
V^2 = Pressure on the moving mass divide by the density of the mass.

If the mass of light is a constant and the pressure of space varies ,than it is obvious that the velocity is also variable.

So the mass of light being the smallest in the universe ,with the greatest density, would be then the fastest moving mass in the Universe.
The speed of light as measured in local space is in the order of 10^8 meters per seconds. It could be less at different location of the Universe. It could be much greater at a location where the pressure of space is much greater.

Answer 7

That's exactly it too. Currently we don't know of anything that travels faster than light. And why don't we know? Well...it could be a limitation in technology, as you said.

And c'mon Josh, just because we can slow down the speed of light won't make it a spectacular feat to go faster than it when it's been slowed down. That's just stupid. Whenever the speed of light is referred to, it is most often referred to as the speed of light in a vacuum, and as that stands, it will be very hard to go faster than that,

Answer 8

Notice in the following how the value of "c2" relates in the physics trilogy. It is this value that describes the energy value of our universe - a value of which we are all composed.

Time is linear, a single direction - present to past. The physics trilogy describes the basis of our reality, and it gives a clue as to why things operate as they do. The trilogy is: E = mc2, m = E/c2, and c2 = E/m. The last is that of a field of gravity, which is a field of physical time. This equation describes the "c^2" concept as being an energy/mass relationship, while the first two describe the basis of our existence itself is this very same value of "c2".

In the first equation the value of "c2" is the multiplier and in the second the divider. In each of these it is the basis of the equation itself. What this means is that all forms of energy and mass are composed of this value. Our universe and all within are composed of physical time "c2". It is for this reason the present moves into becoming the past at the rate it does, and this rate of change is the same throughout our universe. Every event moves from "present time" to that of the "past", which means our universe moves in a single direction.

Mass moving to the speed of light would change into electromagnetic energy. Mass would change from being a three dimensional entity into becoming that of physical time. This may be thought of as m = c^3, or a cube of time. A cube of time "c3", as I remember, is that of 1 kg. or 2.2 lbs.

Were all the mass of our universe converted into electromagnetic energy (of which it is composed), then it would have changed from a three dimensional universe into that of a single dimension. At that instant physical time would have ceased to exist, for it requires the presence of a mass to form the concept of time.

Answer 9

Most individuals are accustomed to the addition rule of velocities: if two cars approach each other from opposite directions, each traveling at a speed of 50 km/h, relative to the road surface, one expects that each car will perceive the other as approaching at a combined speed of 50 + 50 = 100 km/h to a very high degree of accuracy.

However, at velocities at or approaching the speed of light, this rule does not apply. Two spaceships approaching each other, each traveling at 90% the speed of light relative to some third observer between them, do not perceive each other as approaching at 90% + 90% = 180% the speed of light; instead they each perceive the other as approaching at slightly less than 99.5% the speed of light.

no acceleration in any frame of reference can cause you to exceed the speed of light with respect to another observer. Thus the speed of light acts as a speed limit for all objects with respect to all other objects in special relativity.

Answer 10

It can be calculated with fundamental physics formulas postulated by Einstein (and since proved many times...i.e. particle accelerators that need HUGE amounts of energy to make particles travel at 99.9% the speed of light...and these are single particles!).