Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 63 (9161 total)
4 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,585 Year: 2,842/9,624 Month: 687/1,588 Week: 93/229 Day: 4/61 Hour: 0/0


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   Is Faster Than Light travel the wrong question?
Meldinoor
Member (Idle past 4799 days)
Posts: 400
From: Colorado, USA
Joined: 02-16-2009


Message 4 of 81 (533277)
10-29-2009 5:46 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Michamus
10-29-2009 10:43 AM


Hi Michamus,
I don't know much on the topic myself, and I expect cavediver will be around to explain it much better for you. But here's how I understand it:
Velocity is always relative. That is, for instance, there's no such thing as traveling at an absolute speed of 0.999c. It is always relative to some other object.
So while light will always be leaving you at the speed of light, the relative velocity, or change in position over time, will always be sub-light speed for any given reference frame.
However, because of length contraction, if you were able to approach some coordinate, say a distant star, at a speed close to the speed of light, the distance would appear much shorter, and you'd be able to get there quickly. From an observer on earth it is not the distance that is getting shorter, but your spaceship. The observer would see time dilate on your ship, but would experience it as if your ship took many years.
So if you really wanted to get to a distant object within your lifetime, you would never have to exceed the speed of light. Just don't expect your friends to still be waiting for you when you get back.
Respectfully,
-Meldinoor

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Michamus, posted 10-29-2009 10:43 AM Michamus has not replied

  
Meldinoor
Member (Idle past 4799 days)
Posts: 400
From: Colorado, USA
Joined: 02-16-2009


Message 73 of 81 (534075)
11-04-2009 8:24 PM
Reply to: Message 72 by cavediver
11-04-2009 7:00 PM


Re: Spacetime
Just a minor quibble, but shouldn't the result of be and not ???
Respectfully,
-Meldinoor

This message is a reply to:
 Message 72 by cavediver, posted 11-04-2009 7:00 PM cavediver has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 74 by bluescat48, posted 11-04-2009 10:58 PM Meldinoor has not replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024