Can You Travel Faster Than The Speed Of Light?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impossibility of traveling faster than the speed of light, as established by Einstein's theory of relativity. Key equations such as E=γMoC² and the implications of gamma (γ) demonstrate that as an object's speed approaches that of light, its mass increases, requiring infinite energy to reach light speed. Participants agree that while objects can exceed the speed of light in a medium, they cannot do so in a vacuum. The conversation also touches on theoretical concepts like tachyons and Cherenkov radiation, reinforcing the consensus that no object with mass can achieve or exceed the speed of light.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Einstein's theory of relativity
  • Familiarity with the equation E=γMoC²
  • Knowledge of gamma (γ) and its implications in relativistic physics
  • Basic concepts of Cherenkov radiation and its significance
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of Einstein's theory of relativity on modern physics
  • Explore the concept of tachyons and their theoretical properties
  • Study the phenomenon of Cherenkov radiation and its applications in particle physics
  • Investigate the physics of wormholes and their relation to faster-than-light travel
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, astrophysicists, theoretical physicists, and anyone interested in the limitations of speed in the context of relativity and modern physics.

  • #31
JaredJames said:
Wormholes work on a different principle. At no point do you travel faster than the speed of light between two points because the distance between the two points becomes zero (or as small as possible).

Wormholes a strictly theoretical at the moment and there is no direct evidence they exist.


Not appropriate and a waste of a post.


Correct, you require infinite energy for any object with mass to travel at c.

Didn't Stephen Hawking in a 2010 interview, say wormholes exists, I thought it was regarded as scientific fact not fiction.
 
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  • #32
gopolks said:
Didn't Stephen Hawking in a 2010 interview, say wormholes exists, I thought it was regarded as scientific fact not fiction.
We have no evidence of wormholes. It's a fact that wormholes are consistent with our understanding of the universe. It is not a fact that they actually exist.
 
  • #33
this is a strange thread to have on the physics forum to my imagination since it is almost conclusive that relativity(which has not been disproven)predicts the impossibility of faster than light travel. i just don't see this as a serious thread and simply asks anybody to state their hokey theory for faster than light travel. i think on some occasions i would say that i can move faster than the speed of human perception but i don't really think anyone can travel faster than the speed of light which moves at a speed which can be described as seven times around the world in a single second. that's just too darn fast!
 
  • #34
Nope.
 
  • #35
schonovic said:
this is a strange thread to have on the physics forum to my imagination since it is almost conclusive that relativity(which has not been disproven)predicts the impossibility of faster than light travel. i just don't see this as a serious thread and simply asks anybody to state their hokey theory for faster than light travel. i think on some occasions i would say that i can move faster than the speed of human perception but i don't really think anyone can travel faster than the speed of light which moves at a speed which can be described as seven times around the world in a single second. that's just too darn fast!

anything with mass cannot move at the speed of light, let alone faster than

do a forum search on the speed of light subject there are many earlier questions and answers on the subject :)

cheers
Dave
 

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