Will This Go Faster Than Light?

TL;DR

Despite illusions created by certain phenomena, nothing can actually exceed the speed of light.

Transcript

The speed of light is meant to be the ultimate speed limit in the universe. According to Einstein’s special theory of relativity, nothing should move through space faster than light. But that doesn’t stop people from trying. Every day I get a lot of messages proposing ways to go faster than the speed of light. There is the classic method where you ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🙂 Illusions can make it appear that objects are moving faster than the speed of light, but it is only due to the arrangement and perception of particles.
• 🐎 Force propagation through objects is limited to the speed of sound, making it impossible for a rigid stick to exceed the speed of light.
• 👾 The design of a space engine with carbon nanotube tethers is not feasible due to the immense force, energy requirements, and limitations of electromagnetism.
• 🐎 Increasing speed toward the speed of light requires exponentially greater force and energy, making it practically impossible.
• 🐎 The speed of light is the ultimate speed limit in the universe, and nothing can exceed it.
• 🙂 Distant galaxies may appear to be receding faster than light, but it is due to the expansion of space, not their actual motion.

Questions & Answers

Q: How is it possible for a laser spot to move faster than the speed of light on the moon?

It is only an illusion. Although the laser spot appears to move faster than the speed of light, the individual photons are still traveling at the speed of light. The illusion is created by the quick succession of the photons landing side by side.

Q: Can a long rigid stick move faster than the speed of light if flicked?

No, it is not possible. Force propagation through objects is limited to the speed of sound, and the energy applied at the start of the stick would likely dissipate before reaching the tip.

Q: Is it theoretically possible to achieve the speed of light with carbon nanotube tethers?

No, it is not possible. The immense force required to pull the tether towards the center of rotation would make the tether break. Additionally, as the speed increases, the force and energy required become exponentially greater.

Q: Can anything go faster than the speed of light?

No, the ultimate speed limit in the universe is the speed of light. There may be galaxies receding at velocities greater than light, but they are not violating the theory of relativity as they are not moving through space faster than light.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Shining a laser on the moon can create the illusion of the laser spot moving faster than the speed of light, but it is not actually violating the speed limit.

• Attempting to use a long rigid stick to move faster than the speed of light is not possible due to the limitation of force propagation through objects.

• Creating a space engine and deploying carbon nanotube tethers to achieve the speed of light is not feasible due to the immense force and energy required, as well as the limitation of electromagnetism.