Does this experiment prove that light speed is actually faster?

In summary, some people believed that light speed is actually instantaneous and attempted to demonstrate this through an experiment involving a taut clothesline and two clothespins. However, it was found that the movement of the clothespins was not instantaneous, but rather delayed by the speed of sound in the clothesline. This experiment does not effectively demonstrate the true speed of light.
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wonderingchicken
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Some people thought light speed is actually instantaneous which can be demonstrated by doing an experiment involving a taut clothesline and two clothespins. On each ends of the taut clothesline, put one of the clothespins on both ends and touch one of the clothespin will make the other one at the other end moves instantly. Does this experiment demonstrated that light speed is instantaneous?
 
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  • #2
wonderingchicken said:
touch one of the clothespin will make the other one at the other end moves instantly
What would make you believe that this is true?

It is far from instant. It would move at the speed of sound in the close line which is far far far smaller than c, and not even remotely instantaneously.
 
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  • #3
wonderingchicken said:
On each ends of the taut clothesline, put one of the clothespins on both ends and touch one of the clothespin will make the other one at the other end moves instantly.
Not instantly, but is delayed by the speed of sound in the clothesline, which depends on the tension.
 
  • #4
A. This is not an experiment. It's not an experiment unless you do it.
B. Light is not involved. How can it tell you anything about light?
C. You have a history of low quality thread starts. You also have a history of wandering off when asked clarifying questions. Neither will help you understand.
 
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  • #5
Question has been asked and answered, so the thread is now closed.
 
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1. Does this experiment prove that light speed is actually faster?

No, this experiment does not prove that light speed is actually faster. The speed of light is a fundamental constant in physics, and it has been measured and confirmed to be approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. While experiments can provide evidence for theories, they cannot prove them to be true.

2. How can we measure the speed of light?

The speed of light can be measured using various methods, including the use of lasers, interferometers, and the observation of astronomical events. One of the most accurate ways to measure the speed of light is by using a device called a Michelson interferometer, which splits a beam of light into two and then recombines them to measure the time it takes for the light to travel a certain distance.

3. Can the speed of light be faster than what we currently believe?

Based on our current understanding of physics, the speed of light is believed to be the maximum speed at which anything can travel in the universe. This is supported by numerous experiments and observations, and there is no evidence to suggest that the speed of light can be exceeded.

4. What factors can affect the measurement of the speed of light?

The measurement of the speed of light can be affected by various factors, such as the medium through which light is traveling, the accuracy of the measuring equipment, and the experimental setup. It is important to carefully control and account for these factors in order to obtain accurate measurements of the speed of light.

5. How does the speed of light impact our understanding of the universe?

The speed of light plays a crucial role in our understanding of the universe. It is used in many equations and theories in physics, such as Einstein's theory of relativity, and it helps us to understand the behavior of objects and phenomena in the universe. Without the speed of light, our understanding of the universe would be drastically different.

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