Can a Hypothetical Perfectly Rigid Body Transmit Forces Faster than Light?

[etriad]

Sorry in advance if this is a ridiculous question, but I've always wondered about this.

Let's say we could create a wire in space away from any gravitational affects. Make the wire 2 light seconds long, for example. If we pulled on one end, when would the effects be felt on the other end? I'm assuming that we could create a zero-stretch material (maybe a very bad assumption).

 

[Doc Al]

I'm assuming that we could create a zero-stretch material (maybe a very bad assumption).

Yes, that's a bad assumption.

Read this: Can I send a signal faster than light by pushing a rigid rod?

 

[tiny-tim]

welcome to pf!

hi etriad! welcome to pf!

Sorry in advance if this is a ridiculous question, but I've always wondered about this.

Let's say we could create a wire in space away from any gravitational affects. Make the wire 2 light seconds long, for example. If we pulled on one end, when would the effects be felt on the other end? I'm assuming that we could create a zero-stretch material (maybe a very bad assumption).

at least 2 seconds later …

the wire is mostly empty space: the molecules in it are bound together only by electromagnetism, and electromagnetic effects can't travel faster than light

 

[etriad]

Thanks for the link.