Instant communication between great distances?

  • Context: Undergrad 
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    Communication
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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the concept of instant communication over vast distances, specifically through the hypothetical use of a giant pole connecting Earth to a distant planet, Gliese 581-D. Participants examine the implications of such a scenario in the context of physics, particularly regarding the speed of signal transmission and the limitations imposed by the speed of light.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a scenario where a pole connects Earth and a distant planet, questioning whether signals could be sent instantly through it.
  • Another participant asserts that signals would travel through the pole at the speed of sound in the material, which is slower than the speed of light.
  • A third participant references general relativity, suggesting that a totally inelastic object is not permissible, thus complicating the concept of such a pole.
  • Further replies reiterate the limitation that any signal transmission would be constrained by the speed of light.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that signals cannot travel faster than light, but there is a debate about the implications of using a physical object like a pole for communication over long distances.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the theoretical implications of using a pole for communication, nor does it address the specific properties of materials that could affect signal transmission.

dollarbill220
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Ok, anyone browsing such a forum as this should know all too well the premise that nothing can travel faster than light. BUT!... and please humor me here, these are some very far-fetched theoretical situations.

Let's say you are on the earth, and I am on some distant planet. Let's just say Gliese 581-D for the sake of argument. However far it is, 20 ly or whatever, let's say we had a giant pole that could stretch the two distances. If the pole moves, would we not feel it on both ends at the same time? Could we send signals using Morse Code with the pole, or something like it, and receive them instantly?
 
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No. Signals like that travel in vibrations at the speed of sound in the material which is always far slower than the speed of light.
 
General relativity forbids a totally inelastic object, which makes condensed matter an interesting subject.
 
Super, I'll but that for a dollar. I suppose if that was possible, someone would have thought about it before me. Thanks for answering my question, that's all I needed to know... for now.
 
Yep, I've heard this idea before.
To repeat what others said: The pole is limited by lightspeed.
 

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