How would moving at the speed of light be perceived?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the theoretical implications of an object moving at the speed of light, specifically regarding time perception. It is established that as an object accelerates through space, its movement through time slows down, leading to the conclusion that an object theoretically reaching light speed would not experience time. However, participants clarify that such a scenario is impossible under current physical laws, particularly those outlined in Einstein's theory of special relativity, which asserts that no object can reach the speed of light.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Einstein's theory of special relativity
  • Familiarity with the concepts of time dilation and length contraction
  • Basic knowledge of physics terminology related to speed and light
  • Awareness of the limitations of theoretical physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of time dilation in special relativity
  • Study the mathematical framework of Einstein's equations
  • Explore the concept of light speed as a universal constant
  • Investigate the philosophical implications of time perception in theoretical physics
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Physicists, students of physics, and anyone interested in the theoretical aspects of time and space in relation to the speed of light.

hewiiitt-
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As I understand it an object moves through time and space and the faster it moves through space the slower it moves through time. So say somehow an object was accelerated to the speed of light (I know this isn't possible) it would theoretically stop moving through time but my question is that if the object was centient and was normally aware of the concept of time what would it experience if it was to travel several light years. Would it seem to the object that it has moved the several light years instantly or would it have a concept of time passed.
 
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hewiiitt- said:
So say somehow an object was accelerated to the speed of light (I know this isn't possible)
Because it's not possible, you're basically asking "How do the laws physics work under conditions under which they don't work?". There's no reasonable answer to that sort of question, so this thread is closed.

It would theoretically stop moving through time
Not even theoretically - for that to be true there would have to be some theory under which the object can move at the speed of light and would stop moving through time, and there is no such theory. (You may be misled into thinking otherwise by setting ##v## equal to ##c## in some of the equations of special relativity - but those equations are derived from assumptions that are equivalent to saying that ##v## is never equal to ##c##).
 

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