Faster than Light and wormholes

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of wormholes and the prospects of faster-than-light (FTL) travel. Participants explore theoretical implications, technological barriers, and the distinction between concepts and reality in the context of physics and space travel.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that wormholes could allow for near-instantaneous travel by folding space-time, but express uncertainty about the feasibility of such concepts.
  • Others argue that wormholes have not been verified and highlight the significant challenges in creating them, emphasizing that they remain speculative.
  • A participant mentions the lack of materials with negative mass as a barrier to FTL travel.
  • There is a discussion about the differences between wormholes and Cherenkov radiation, with some clarifying that they are fundamentally different phenomena.
  • Some participants suggest that studying slower-than-light travel may be more practical and relevant than focusing on FTL travel.
  • Questions arise regarding the implications of time dilation during high-speed travel, with references to calculators available online for exploring these concepts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no consensus on the feasibility of FTL travel or the practicality of wormholes. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing perspectives on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the speculative nature of wormholes and the technological challenges that remain unaddressed. There are also discussions about the frame-dependent nature of time during high-speed travel, indicating a complexity in understanding these concepts.

Richie Smash
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If the concept of a wormhole is like folding a piece of space-time like a piece of paper, for near instantaneous travel faster than light, what is keeping us back right now?

I am aware that it's really complicated and far beyond my scope of understanding right now, however I am fascinated by anything to do with discovery and what's out there, so I always wonder what are the prospects of faster than light travel?
 
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Richie Smash said:
If the concept of a wormhole is like folding a piece of space-time like a piece of paper, for near instantaneous travel faster than light, what is keeping us back right now?

I always think that maybe there is some super technology being hidden from us, what are the prospects of faster than light travel?

You seem to not be able to distinguish the difference between something that exists merely as a "concept", versus reality.

Wormhole has not been verified. This is a crucial piece of the puzzle in ANY science. It is also has many untested speculation, not to mention, tremendously difficult to create based on some of the parameters that are required. Your post made it sound as if this is a piece of cake, and we should just go ahead and do it.

Zz.
 
Richie Smash said:
what is keeping us back right now?
The unavailability of any material with a negative mass

Richie Smash said:
what are the prospects of faster than light travel?
You would do much better to buy a bunch of lottery tickets.
 
is it something like cherenkov phenomena in space? i have no idea
 
purnachandra behera said:
is it something like cherenkov phenomena in space? i have no idea

No, it's completely different. A wormhole is a geometrical phenomenon, meaning that it's a result of a particular way the geometry of spacetime is set up. Cherenkov radiation is the result of charged particles traveling faster than the electromagnetic waves they themselves generate in a medium.
 
ZapperZ said:
You seem to not be able to distinguish the difference between something that exists merely as a "concept", versus reality.

Wormhole has not been verified.
Yeah, even further: The OP says "holding us back". From what? Making one? Using one? Even for things proven to exist, we can't necessarily make or use them! The moon exists, but that doesn't mean we know how to build our own!
 
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purnachandra behera said:
is it something like cherenkov phenomena in space? i have no idea
The effective speed of light through any medium is less than c. Cherenkov works when a fast (but sub-c) object enters a material with a sub-c propagation speed. And, of course, the object slows up even more!
 
russ_watters said:
The moon exists, but that doesn't mean we know how to build our own!

Good point. Bad example, at least since 1957.
 
Richie Smash said:
I am aware that it's really complicated and far beyond my scope of understanding right now, however I am fascinated by anything to do with discovery and what's out there, so I always wonder what are the prospects of faster than light travel?

You might find it more interesting to study the implications of slower-than-light travel. For example, at a speed of ##\frac{999}{1000}## the speed of light it would take about 2 months to travel to a star system that's located 4 light years away!

Studying that would be far more practical, since it's the stuff everyday modern life instead of the stuff of science fiction.
 
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  • #10
Mister T said:
You might find it more interesting to study the implications of slower-than-light travel. For example, at a speed of ##\frac{999}{1000}## the speed of light it would take about 2 months to travel to a star system that's located 4 light years away!

For those confused by this, do note that the 2 months is the duration of the time on the ship. Those of us on Earth would see the ship take just over 4 years to arrive.
 
  • #11
Mister T said:
You might find it more interesting to study the implications of slower-than-light travel. For example, at a speed of ##\frac{999}{1000}## the speed of light it would take about 2 months to travel to a star system that's located 4 light years away!

Studying that would be far more practical, since it's the stuff everyday modern life instead of the stuff of science fiction.

Only if you could instantaneously start and stop. A constant 1G acceleration / deceleration would take about 3.5 years of ship time and you would ‘only’ get to .95c. However, in about 30 years you could get to the Andromeda Galaxy
 
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  • #12
Using the math regarding the acceleration and decelerate of this trip. Does this take into account the relativity of time slowing as you are reaching the speed of light. Likewise as you are slowing time speeding up as you decelerate.

Thanks
 
  • #13
Sean Nelson said:
Using the math regarding the acceleration and decelerate of this trip. Does this take into account the relativity of time slowing as you are reaching the speed of light. Likewise as you are slowing time speeding up as you decelerate.

Thanks

Yes, there are a number of calculators for this on the web, for example

http://nathangeffen.webfactional.com/spacetravel/spacetravel.php
 
  • #14
Thank you
 
  • #15
Sean Nelson said:
Using the math regarding the acceleration and decelerate of this trip. Does this take into account the relativity of time slowing as you are reaching the speed of light. Likewise as you are slowing time speeding up as you decelerate.
Just to be sure you are clear, those things you say are happening are frame dependent and none of them are happening in the local frame of the object making the trip.
 
  • #16
Yes thank you. I am referring to the observer and not the participant in the local frame
 
  • #17
BWV said:
Yes, there are a number of calculators for this on the web, for example

http://nathangeffen.webfactional.com/spacetravel/spacetravel.php
Thank you,

I used the calculator. Very helpful. I am looking to see how as the passenger on board you can actively look at say a watch on your arm, and actually see your real time on the ship. Not the projected passage of time from start to finish.
 
  • #18
The OP question has been addressed. Thread closed.
 

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