Undergrad Faster Than Light Particle: Could it Create the Universe?

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The discussion centers on the hypothetical scenario of a particle exceeding the speed of light, questioning whether it could travel infinitely fast and potentially constitute the entire universe. It acknowledges that Einstein's Special Relativity prohibits such speeds, rendering the inquiry largely speculative. Participants emphasize that altering the laws of physics to allow for faster-than-light travel leads to predictions disconnected from reality. The conversation concludes with a reminder that personal speculation is not permitted in the forum, reinforcing the impossibility of the original premise. Ultimately, the thread highlights the boundaries of scientific inquiry within established physical laws.
Mike Downey
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I've wondered what would happen to a particle if it could break through the 186,000 miles/second barrier and go faster than light.
Would it go say 186,001 miles/second or would it go infinitely fast. I understand that Einstein's special relativity prohibits this but I have just wondered.
I've wondered what would happen to a particle if it could break through the 186,000 miles/second speed barrier and go faster than light. Would it go say 186,001 miles/second or would it go infinitely fast. I know Einsteins Special Relativity prohibits this but I have just wondered.
Now if this particle could break through this barrier and go infinitely fast (all places at the same time) is it possible this one particle could constitute the whole universe.
Is it also possible that the sole purpose of the Big Bang was to create this one particle?
 
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Mike Downey said:
Would it go say 186,001 miles/second or would it go infinitely fast. I know Einsteins Special Relativity prohibits this but I have just wondered.
As you say, it's impossible, so you'd have to invent changes to the laws of physics to permit it. You therefore get to choose what you want to predict. But because you are making up the rules instead of modeling what we actually see, your prediction will have nothing to do with reality.
 
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You cannot just say things like that and expect that relativity has an answer. You are essentially asking what the theory says about something that cannot occur according to the theory. The answer is that it cannot occur so the question is moot.
 
Mike Downey said:
Now if this particle could break through this barrier and go infinitely fast (all places at the same time) is it possible this one particle could constitute the whole universe.
Is it also possible that the sole purpose of the Big Bang was to create this one particle?
Welcome to the PF. :smile:

We do not allow personal speculation like this. Please avoid such speculation in your future posts. It is fine to ask questions -- that is how we learn.

But as has been mentioned, what you are asking (a particle moving faster than c in a vacuum) is not possible.

Thread will be closed now.
 
MOVING CLOCKS In this section, we show that clocks moving at high speeds run slowly. We construct a clock, called a light clock, using a stick of proper lenght ##L_0##, and two mirrors. The two mirrors face each other, and a pulse of light bounces back and forth betweem them. Each time the light pulse strikes one of the mirrors, say the lower mirror, the clock is said to tick. Between successive ticks the light pulse travels a distance ##2L_0## in the proper reference of frame of the clock...

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