Is the Speed of Light Truly Constant in Deep Space?

In summary, the speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second in a vacuum and is known as the universal speed limit. It was first measured by Danish astronomer Ole Rømer in 1676, who observed the varying time it took for light to travel from Jupiter's moon Io to Earth. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the speed of light is constant, but recent experiments have shown small variations. The speed of light also affects our perception of time, as objects in motion appear to experience time dilation as they approach the speed of light. It is currently believed that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light due to the infinite increase in mass and energy that would occur.
  • #1
Twich
16
0
Evidence has surfaced that the speed of light is not c in deep space. Is it true?

<<unacceptable link removed>>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
No, it isn't. The source you cited does not meet PF's standards for legitimate references.

In particular, the Pioneer anomaly has a much more mundane explanation:
http://arxiv.org/abs/0901.4597

Note that this reference is peer-reviewed and meets the PF standards.
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person

1. What is the speed of light?

The speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second in a vacuum. This is also known as the universal speed limit, as nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.

2. How was the speed of light first measured?

The first successful measurement of the speed of light was done by Danish astronomer Ole Rømer in 1676. He observed the varying time it took for light to travel from Jupiter's moon Io to Earth as the two planets moved in their orbit.

3. Has the speed of light always been constant?

According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the speed of light is a constant in all inertial frames of reference. However, some recent experiments have shown small variations in the speed of light, which may have been different in the early universe.

4. How does the speed of light affect our perception of time?

The speed of light plays a crucial role in the theory of relativity, which states that time appears to slow down for an object in motion as its speed approaches the speed of light. This is known as time dilation and has been observed in high-speed experiments.

5. Can anything travel faster than the speed of light?

According to our current understanding of physics, it is impossible for anything to travel faster than the speed of light. As an object approaches the speed of light, its mass and energy increase infinitely, making it impossible to reach or exceed this limit.

Similar threads

  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Special and General Relativity
3
Replies
76
Views
4K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
18
Views
1K
  • Special and General Relativity
2
Replies
45
Views
3K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
18
Views
1K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
33
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
2
Replies
57
Views
3K
Back
Top