Can a Circle Travel at the Speed of Light?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a theoretical scenario where a circle of radius R is said to travel in the x direction at the speed of light, c. The task is to find the rate of change of the intersection point between the circle and a vertical line, while also considering implications related to the second postulate of relativity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive dr/dt and expresses uncertainty about how to approach the problem, particularly regarding the implications of extreme speeds in relativity. Some participants question the validity of the scenario, suggesting that no physical object can travel at or faster than the speed of light.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the implications of the problem and questioning the assumptions made about speed and physical objects. There is no explicit consensus, but some guidance is being provided regarding the nature of speeds in relativity.

Contextual Notes

Participants are discussing the constraints of the problem, particularly the implications of the second postulate of relativity and the nature of objects traveling at the speed of light.

Geranimo
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Homework Statement


[/B]
A circle of radius R travels in the x direction with velocity c. The center of the circle is at -R at t = 0. a vertical line rests at x = 0. Find dr/dt, where r is the position of the intersection between the circle and the vertical line, and explain if this violates 2nd postulate of relativity.

Homework Equations


[/B]
I already found
dr/dt = c*cot(θ)

The Attempt at a Solution



The speed approaches infinity when θ → 0... I seriously don't know how to start / which part of relativity I have to use to solve this extreme speed... Any hint to start the problem? Thanks
 
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Well in fact it may not do anything because nothing is traveling faster than c, it's just the collision of the 2 lines, and nothing is wrong with that.
 
Geranimo said:
Well in fact it may not do anything because nothing is traveling faster than c, it's just the collision of the 2 lines, and nothing is wrong with that.
Right. No physical object is moving with that speed.
 
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Geranimo said:
Well in fact it may not do anything because nothing is traveling faster than c ...
That is an inadequate statement. It should be that nothing can travel as fast or faster than c, not just faster than c. (I am, of course, considering things with mass. Photons do travel at c and perhaps that's what you meant)
 

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