An old new kind of observer dependency: is v > c possible if nobody was looking?

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In summary, since everything is relative to a frame in relativity, all measurements are observer-dependent. This is historically precede quantum theory in that respect.
  • #1
EnumaElish
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Since in relativity everything is relative to a frame, doesn't that mean that in relativity theory (RT), all measurements are observer-dependent? Doesn't RT historically precede quantum theory (QT) in that respect? I am asking this because it seems to me that there is a general presumption "out there" which amounts to saying that QT was the first physics theory to do away with the "neutral observer" axiom -- or, equivalently, to do away with the notion that it is possible to design experiments in which the result is independent of the observer. However, RT postulates that measurements of a given phenomenon by two observers located in different frames would typically differ. Even more drastically, RT postulates (or is consistent) with the notion that while objects outside each other's event cone may be moving at speeds higher than lightspeed, each such object will measure any other object to have slowed down to a sublight velocity as they enter each other's cone. Given these postulates, why is QT's observational dependency postulate made to be the earliest historical acknowledgment of an observer's influence on the result of an experiment?
 
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  • #2
General Relativity is fundamentally determinisitic and it gives you the formulas you need to turn what you see from your POV into anyone else's POV. You can know what someone else is seeing and experiencing even if you aren't actually in their reference frame using the GR equations.

The question can v>c if no one is looking is one that gets explored, but it generally done in the context of the well known phenomenas of tunnelling and entanglement.
 
  • #3
ohwilleke, speaking v> c via tunnelling, What are the current theories which allow quantom tunnelling? From my conversation with certian physicists, it is the act of opening up some sort of a buble in spacetime, or where you lose your reference frame or something to that effect. I don't think I recall what they explained to me properly so that's why I ask ::

"Im the master of time!" -- Eiffel 65
 
  • #4
Special Relativity is, in a sense, an optical illusion that cannot be overcome. If there were an observer that was not subject to the same speed limit c, then they were not be subject to the same "illusion" that we observe. But this is a naive view, that ignores the fact that the hypothetical observer couldn't exist because the speed limit c is part of the structure of spacetime (it is so fundamental that without a speed limit, time as we know it would not exist.
 

1. Can something travel faster than the speed of light if there is no observer?

As per Einstein's theory of relativity, the speed of light is the ultimate speed limit in the universe. This means that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, regardless of whether there is an observer or not. Therefore, it is not possible for anything to travel at a speed greater than the speed of light, even if there is no observer present.

2. Why is observer dependency important in understanding the laws of physics?

Observer dependency is important because it helps us understand how the laws of physics are affected by the presence or absence of an observer. It also highlights the role of perception and perspective in our understanding of the physical world. Many quantum mechanics experiments have demonstrated the impact of observer dependency on the behavior of particles, further emphasizing its significance in our understanding of the laws of physics.

3. How does the concept of observer dependency challenge our understanding of reality?

The concept of observer dependency challenges our understanding of reality by questioning the existence of an objective reality independent of observers. It suggests that reality is subjective and can be influenced by the act of observation. This challenges the traditional notion of a fixed, objective reality and opens up new possibilities for understanding the universe.

4. Is it possible for something to travel faster than the speed of light if it is not being observed?

No, it is not possible for anything to travel faster than the speed of light, regardless of whether it is being observed or not. The laws of physics, specifically Einstein's theory of relativity, dictate that the speed of light is the ultimate speed limit in the universe.

5. How does the concept of observer dependency impact our understanding of time and space?

The concept of observer dependency has a significant impact on our understanding of time and space. It suggests that these fundamental concepts may not be as objective and independent as previously thought. The act of observation can influence the perception of time and space, blurring the lines between the two and challenging our traditional understanding of these concepts.

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