2007-12-29 01:07:32 · 6 answers · asked by Natasha 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
good question dear. see light is massless, so it can travel so fast. no thing other than electromagnetic waves can achieve the speed of light. rockets r mechanical devices and they cant achieve such great speed. the heavier you're, the less will be ur running speed....
2007-12-29 01:16:52 · answer #1 · answered by Pranay C 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this, but there is a method of using light to propel a spacecraft using a thing called radiation pressure. This basically states that although photons are massless, they exert a force on things that they collide with. This can be used to propel an object with something like a solar sail. Unfortunately, in order for a solar sail to work in our solar system, it would need to have an area of a few square kilometers.
2007-12-29 09:41:36 · answer #2 · answered by Richard Hammings 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Light is basically an electromagnetic wave composed of constituents called as "Photons" . According to einstein theory "light is the fastest stuff in this world". Nothing can reach the speed of light.
2007-12-29 09:35:41 · answer #3 · answered by sumitavo b 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
just because light travels at c, it doesnt mean it'll push things at that speed
each photon has momentum p, if it reflects off a mirror it's momentum becomes -p so the mirror gains momentum of 2p
while this sounds awesome, p is *tiny*, and as they;ve said you'd need an enormous sail to get anywhere,
so why dont we use light to propel rockets? because it would be quite pointless at the moment
sorry to ruin the magic for you
2007-12-29 10:17:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Doesn't work, that is the whole frustrating point of Einstein's work that drives buggy those people who want no limits
2007-12-29 10:21:51 · answer #5 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You first! *laughter*
Care to "share" this knowledge with us, Mr. Knows it all?
2007-12-29 09:10:42 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋