Gravitational Boom? Speed of Light & Sonic Boom

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In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of traveling faster than the speed of light and whether a gravitational boom or gravitational waves would be created in this scenario. The idea of Cerenkov radiation and its relationship to traveling faster than the speed of light is also mentioned. It is concluded that massive objects cannot travel at the speed of light in a vacuum and therefore a gravitational boom or waves would not be created in this scenario. The conversation also clarifies the term "massive" as an adjective for objects with mass.
  • #1
bjon-07
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When one goes faster than the speed of sound a sonic boom is created. If one where to go faster than the speed of light, would a gravitatonal boom be formed? Does this question even make sense?
 
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  • #2
Yes it does. In another medium than vacuum. You can't go fatser than the speed of light in vacuum. Light slows down in other media, so you can (in principle) catch up with a light beam. I didn't understand 'gravitational boom' part. What has gravity to do with you catching up with a light beam? (Your gravitational attraction to other objects increases as you speed up, but in that sense there is nothing special about the threshold of the speed of light in the medium you're in)

There is an effect (and also measured) when particles go fatser than the speed of light in a certain medium other than vacuum. You might want to search on 'cerenkov radiation'.
 
  • #3
Basicly what I was asking is what happens if a massive (is this the right word for object that contain mass?) travels faster than the speed of gravitiy.

We talked about cerenkov radiation in class today and how it produces a Mach Cone of light. If you went a massive object went faster than the speed of light in a vacum, you a Mack cone of gravitational waves be created?
 
  • #4
bjon-07 said:
Basicly what I was asking is what happens if a massive (is this the right word for object that contain mass?) travels faster than the speed of gravitiy.

We talked about cerenkov radiation in class today and how it produces a Mach Cone of light. If you went a massive object went faster than the speed of light in a vacum, you a Mack cone of gravitational waves be created?

Massive is the correct adjective for a particle which has massive. Therefore "massive particle" is a suitable description.

And to answer your question, massive particles can not travel equal to or faster than the speed of light in a vacuum.
So if you want to test this theory you may try, but you will surely not get any result, since you can't travel faster than light.
 
  • #5
bjon-07 said:
If you went a massive object went faster than the speed of light in a vacum,

Speed of Gravity = Speed of light in a vacuum = C

the massive object will never reach or exceed the speed of a gravity wave.

Regards,

Nenad
 

1. What is a gravitational boom?

A gravitational boom is an event that occurs when an object with a large mass moves through space at an extremely high speed, causing a disturbance in the fabric of space-time. This disturbance creates gravitational waves, similar to ripples in a pond, that can be detected by specialized instruments on Earth.

2. How is the speed of light related to gravitational boom?

The speed of light is the fastest speed at which any object or information can travel in the universe. The theory of relativity states that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, including gravitational waves. Therefore, the speed of light plays a crucial role in the detection and understanding of gravitational booms.

3. Can a sonic boom occur in space?

No, a sonic boom is a phenomenon that occurs when an object moves through the air faster than the speed of sound, causing a sudden change in air pressure. In the vacuum of space, there is no medium for sound to travel through, so a sonic boom cannot occur. However, a similar phenomenon called a "cosmic boom" can occur when an object travels faster than the speed of light, creating a shockwave of light.

4. How do scientists detect and study gravitational booms?

Scientists use specialized instruments called interferometers to detect and study gravitational booms. These instruments use laser beams to measure tiny changes in the distance between two points caused by passing gravitational waves. By studying these waves, scientists can learn more about the source of the gravitational boom, such as the mass and speed of the object creating it.

5. Are there any potential applications for gravitational boom research?

Yes, the study of gravitational booms has many potential applications, including improving our understanding of the universe and its origins, developing new technologies for detecting and measuring gravitational waves, and possibly even providing insight into phenomena such as black holes and dark matter. It also has potential applications in fields such as astronomy, astrophysics, and space exploration.

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