How would daily life change if the speed of light was lowered to 20m/s?

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SUMMARY

This discussion explores the implications of a hypothetical scenario where the speed of light is reduced to 20 m/s, focusing on its effects on daily life and relativity. Key observations include the red-shifting of taillights and blue-shifting of headlights as vehicles move relative to an observer at rest. Additionally, participants noted that actions such as pouring liquid would be affected by the perceived velocity, leading to misjudgments in weight and thickness of liquids. The conversation emphasizes the relativity of time, suggesting that individuals would experience time contraction, resulting in arriving at destinations earlier than expected.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity principles
  • Familiarity with the concept of time dilation
  • Basic knowledge of light behavior (redshift and blueshift)
  • Awareness of relativistic effects on motion in fluids
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of time dilation in special relativity
  • Explore the concept of relativistic mass and its implications
  • Study the phenomenon of redshift and blueshift in astrophysics
  • Investigate how fluid dynamics are affected by relativistic speeds
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students and educators in physics, particularly those studying relativity, as well as anyone interested in the practical implications of theoretical physics in everyday scenarios.

Jlinc
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I'm doing an essay for a Relativity course on the relativistic effects which would occur in daily life if the speed of light was somehow...lowered to a number such as 20m/s.

My question is: "How would relativity affect motion though a liquid (such as swimming through a pool) at speeds such as 10m/s or 15m/s (1/2c to 3/4c).
 
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This kind of low-c exercise can be a lot of fun. I have my students do in-class presentations on them when I teach special relativity.

Since this is a school exercise, you should give us your thoughts first and then we can give you feedback. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to do your assignment for you.
 
Alrighty I'll outline the effects I am writing about and what I think will happen.

Taillights of a car moving away from me (Im at rest)
---> Lights will be red-shifted
Headlights of a car moving toward from me (Im at rest)
---> lights will be blue-shifted
Holding a coffee cup in mid-air while I pour some morning joe' in it
--->misjudge the weight of the incoming liquid (due to the liquid's velocity)
Wash breakfast dishes
---> Notice how the water's thickness increases (Im unsure about this...)
See some joggers run by as I look out the window
---> See their body contort toward the direction of motion, as their legs are unproportionally small compared to their torso.

In a car:
Complain about how its seemingly impossible to travel past 72km/h (c=20m/s)
Arriving to work "irrationally" early due to time contraction from the velocity.

Hows it all look? :smile:
 

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