Gravitational Boom? Speed of Light & Sonic Boom

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of whether a "gravitational boom" could occur if an object were to exceed the speed of light, drawing parallels to the sonic boom produced when surpassing the speed of sound. Participants explore the implications of traveling faster than light, particularly in relation to gravitational waves and the behavior of massive objects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the concept of a "gravitational boom" and its relation to catching up with a light beam, noting that gravitational attraction increases with speed but is not uniquely tied to the speed of light.
  • There is mention of Cerenkov radiation, which occurs when particles exceed the speed of light in a medium, and the formation of a Mach Cone of light, prompting questions about analogous effects for gravitational waves.
  • A participant asserts that massive particles cannot travel at or faster than the speed of light in a vacuum, suggesting that testing such a theory would yield no results.
  • Another participant states that the speed of gravity is equivalent to the speed of light in a vacuum, implying that a massive object cannot exceed the speed of gravitational waves.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of exceeding the speed of light and the implications for gravitational waves. There is no consensus on the existence or nature of a "gravitational boom," and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the effects of massive objects traveling faster than light.

Contextual Notes

Participants use terms like "massive" to describe objects with mass, but there is some uncertainty about the terminology and its implications. The discussion also reflects a lack of clarity on the relationship between speed thresholds and gravitational effects.

bjon-07
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When one goes faster than the speed of sound a sonic boom is created. If one where to go faster than the speed of light, would a gravitatonal boom be formed? Does this question even make sense?
 
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Yes it does. In another medium than vacuum. You can't go fatser than the speed of light in vacuum. Light slows down in other media, so you can (in principle) catch up with a light beam. I didn't understand 'gravitational boom' part. What has gravity to do with you catching up with a light beam? (Your gravitational attraction to other objects increases as you speed up, but in that sense there is nothing special about the threshold of the speed of light in the medium you're in)

There is an effect (and also measured) when particles go fatser than the speed of light in a certain medium other than vacuum. You might want to search on 'cerenkov radiation'.
 
basically what I was asking is what happens if a massive (is this the right word for object that contain mass?) travels faster than the speed of gravitiy.

We talked about cerenkov radiation in class today and how it produces a Mach Cone of light. If you went a massive object went faster than the speed of light in a vacum, you a Mack cone of gravitational waves be created?
 
bjon-07 said:
basically what I was asking is what happens if a massive (is this the right word for object that contain mass?) travels faster than the speed of gravitiy.

We talked about cerenkov radiation in class today and how it produces a Mach Cone of light. If you went a massive object went faster than the speed of light in a vacum, you a Mack cone of gravitational waves be created?

Massive is the correct adjective for a particle which has massive. Therefore "massive particle" is a suitable description.

And to answer your question, massive particles can not travel equal to or faster than the speed of light in a vacuum.
So if you want to test this theory you may try, but you will surely not get any result, since you can't travel faster than light.
 
bjon-07 said:
If you went a massive object went faster than the speed of light in a vacum,

Speed of Gravity = Speed of light in a vacuum = C

the massive object will never reach or exceed the speed of a gravity wave.

Regards,

Nenad
 

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