Speed of Light vs. Sound: What Would Change?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores hypothetical scenarios regarding the implications of light traveling at the same speed as sound, specifically considering the effects on perception, relativity, and the nature of sound waves. The scope includes conceptual reasoning and speculative implications.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the effects if the speed of light were to match the speed of sound, suggesting a comparison to current conditions.
  • Another participant explains that sound, being a pressure change in a gas, cannot travel at light speed, but speculates on the energy implications if it could approach that speed.
  • A participant clarifies their inquiry by asking what would happen if light were to slow down to approximately 331 m/s, the speed of sound in air.
  • One contributor discusses the potential delays in perception of events if light traveled as slowly as sound, comparing it to experiences of observing distant events like a football being kicked or lightning followed by thunder.
  • This same participant speculates that if light were significantly slower, such as 3 m/s, it could lead to confusing scenarios where moving objects might reach an observer before the light from those objects does.
  • The participant also raises questions about the implications for relativity in such a scenario, inviting further opinions on the matter.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various speculative viewpoints without reaching a consensus. There are differing interpretations of the implications of light and sound traveling at similar speeds, and the discussion remains open-ended regarding the effects on relativity and perception.

Contextual Notes

Participants' claims depend on hypothetical scenarios and assumptions about the nature of light and sound, with no resolution on the implications for relativity or perception. The discussion includes varying degrees of speculation and uncertainty.

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if. the speed of light has the same velocity as sound?
wat would happen? compare to now?
 
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Sound is the change in pressure of a gas. A gas consists of particles with mass. They couldn't travel at the speed of light, but if they could travel close to it, they would have a very large energy. And the effect of a sound wave would be a bit like someone sandblasting your face.
 
oh? cool thanks

btw i was asking (sorry for not state clearly)


if the light reuce its speed to somewhere like 331 m/s (same for sound in air) wat would happen then
 
AntiMagicMan... I was thinking of it the other way round but your answer was interesting.
to answer the question as I see it to be written, there would be a delay involved between viewing objects, and events happening. When we hear sounds in the distance, we can often notice the events happening with our eyes before the sound reaches us, due to the difference between the speed of sound and the speed of light (a football being kicked in the distance, a lightning flash followed by thunder etc.). If light were to travel as slowly as sound, this same delay would be evident when viewing objects , but I don't believe it would be noticeable to a human observer as 330 m/s is still pretty quick. If you drop it too 3 m/s however, that would be pretty spacey.. moving objects could move towards you and reach you before the light did, which I guess would also cause the light to be re-absorbed by the moving object making it very difficult to cross a road safely :-)

In the case o flilght moving at 330 m/s howveer, i think it would be just like when we view stars, in that our information could be years old by the time the light hits us, but it doesn't 'look' peculiar, its just that we 'know' its old because we know how far away the stars are.

I'd be interested to hear peoples opinions on how it effected relativity in the real world...
Martin
 

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