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touqra
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What is a typical ("maximum") non-relativistic speed ?
Electrons in a metal wire travel at a few mm/s...touqra said:What is a typical ("maximum") non-relativistic speed ?
So, be careful not to be electrically charged, or you have to say you are going at relativistic speedsbelliott4488 said:Well, I'm limited to 55 mph where I live, but I confess that I sometimes exceed that limit ...
The maximum non-relativistic speed refers to the highest speed that an object can attain without entering the realm of special relativity. It is commonly known as the speed of light in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second.
The speed of light in a vacuum was first determined by physicist Ole Rømer in the 17th century using observations of the moons of Jupiter. Later, it was confirmed and refined through numerous experiments, including the famous Michelson-Morley experiment.
Yes, the maximum non-relativistic speed applies to all objects with rest mass. This includes particles such as electrons, atoms, and even larger objects like cars and airplanes. However, massless particles such as photons can travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.
According to the theory of special relativity, it is impossible for any object with mass to travel at or exceed the speed of light in a vacuum. However, some theories propose the existence of particles called tachyons that can travel faster than light, but these are still hypothetical and have not been observed.
As an object approaches the maximum non-relativistic speed, it experiences time dilation, meaning that time moves slower for the object compared to a stationary observer. Additionally, objects traveling at high speeds will also experience length contraction, where their length in the direction of motion appears shorter to an outside observer. These effects are a fundamental part of the theory of special relativity.