- #1
AgentPancake
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if the cars are moving towards each other.
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Do Cars Moving Near Light Speed Appear Faster to Each Other?
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AI Thread Summary
When two cars are moving towards each other at relativistic speeds, they do not appear to move faster than the speed of light relative to one another. The speed of light remains constant at c, regardless of the observers' speeds, due to the principle of relativity. Even if one car is moving at 0.9c towards the other, the light emitted from it still travels at c towards the observer. The calculations show that while the distance between the cars decreases, the speed of light remains unaffected by their relative motion. This understanding aligns with the principles of special relativity.
- #2
Hootenanny
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No. The speed of light doesn't change no matter how fast you are moving. Light will always move away (toward) you at the same speed, c. This is a consequence of principle of relativity*.AgentPancake said:
(*) Often people will say that this is a postulate of special relativity. However, it is possible to derive the constancy of the speed of light simple from the principle of relativity.
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tiny-tim
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- #4
jewbinson
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Interesting.
So suppose your friend's spaceship is moving towards you at 0.9c.
Then after 1 second he would have moved 0.9C and the light from 1 seconds ago will be 0.1C infront of where he is now. When the light reaches you, your friend would have moved closer to you, but still I can't (immediately) see how any rules can be broken by this model.
Anyway, is my understanding correct?
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