Why cant we break the speed of light in a vacuum?
06-05-2008, 01:32 AM
#1
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Why cant we break the speed of light in a vacuum?
I understand that the speed of light is the theoretical maximum but what is the force resisting the object in motion? Like say the space shuttle. Why couldn't it keep accelerating past the speed of light? What is the force acting against it? I must have skipped this day in Physics class. I guess some guys in New Jersey broke the speed of light with light but there really isn't much hard data from the experiment. Something about cadmium crystals.
06-05-2008, 01:37 AM
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Re: Why cant we break the speed of light in a vacuum?
This reminds me of my high school science/engineering class, our professor taught us how to fit a 10 foot long car in a 9 foot long garage 
I haven't dealt with relativity much in college at all really.
I haven't dealt with relativity much in college at all really.
06-05-2008, 01:45 AM
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Re: Why cant we break the speed of light in a vacuum?
Originally Posted by jagojon3
This reminds me of my high school science/engineering class, our professor taught us how to fit a 10 foot long car in a 9 foot long garage
did you guys put it in at an angle or did you take the bumpers off?
06-05-2008, 02:06 AM
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Re: Why cant we break the speed of light in a vacuum?
Originally Posted by jagojon3
This reminds me of my high school science/engineering class, our professor taught us how to fit a 10 foot long car in a 9 foot long garage
I haven't dealt with relativity much in college at all really.
I haven't dealt with relativity much in college at all really.
06-05-2008, 02:56 AM
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Re: Why cant we break the speed of light in a vacuum?
because the object your speeding up has mass.
so through newtons laws of inertia the object wants to keep moving at the same speed that it's already moving and resist speed changes....your are thinking though because in a vacuum their is no drag so if your space shuttle is moving at 299 792 458 mlies a second it's going to keep going that fast. with no drag acting on something it will keep right on going it doesn't take energy to keep moving it takes energy to resist drag.
back to the speed of light. the problem is with speed your mass/inertia increases and as something with mass aproaches light speed the energy needed to accelerate it increases to an infinite amount. so it's impossible.. the only things that can move at the speed of light is light. neutrino's have no mass but they still are just a touch slower.
so through newtons laws of inertia the object wants to keep moving at the same speed that it's already moving and resist speed changes....your are thinking though because in a vacuum their is no drag so if your space shuttle is moving at 299 792 458 mlies a second it's going to keep going that fast. with no drag acting on something it will keep right on going it doesn't take energy to keep moving it takes energy to resist drag.
back to the speed of light. the problem is with speed your mass/inertia increases and as something with mass aproaches light speed the energy needed to accelerate it increases to an infinite amount. so it's impossible.. the only things that can move at the speed of light is light. neutrino's have no mass but they still are just a touch slower.
06-05-2008, 03:15 AM
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Re: Why cant we break the speed of light in a vacuum?
I never took physics class, but it is all about relativity.
if your traveling at 100,000 miles and hour and turn on a light beam.....How fast is the light beam traveling at?
Relative to you, still 186,000 miles a sec.
But a person your about to fly by, the light was traveling at your speed + the speed of light.
if your traveling at 100,000 miles and hour and turn on a light beam.....How fast is the light beam traveling at?
Relative to you, still 186,000 miles a sec.
But a person your about to fly by, the light was traveling at your speed + the speed of light.
06-05-2008, 03:17 AM
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Re: Why cant we break the speed of light in a vacuum?
Originally Posted by jagojon3
This reminds me of my high school science/engineering class, our professor taught us how to fit a 10 foot long car in a 9 foot long garage
I haven't dealt with relativity much in college at all really.
I haven't dealt with relativity much in college at all really.
06-05-2008, 03:24 AM
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Re: Why cant we break the speed of light in a vacuum?
Originally Posted by Mista Bone
12 foot car will fit in a 9 foot long garage.....this was simple 10th grade trig classs extra credit question.
