Is Breaking the Speed of Light Possible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of breaking the speed of light, particularly in the context of two videos presented by a new forum member. Participants explore concepts related to group velocity, information transfer, and speculative ideas in physics regarding faster-than-light (FTL) travel.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses skepticism about the videos, requesting mathematical support and observational data to substantiate claims made in them.
  • Another participant clarifies that the first video discusses group velocity, emphasizing that information is not transmitted faster than the speed of light.
  • A different participant references a paper on negative group velocity in sound waves, suggesting that while exotic ideas exist, they remain speculative and may never be practical.
  • Some participants speculate that if FTL travel were possible, it might first manifest as FTL information transfer, contingent on a medium that could also exceed light speed.
  • There is a discussion about the paradoxes associated with FTL information transfer, including the idea of receiving a signal before it is emitted.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the validity of the videos, with some agreeing on the limitations of group velocity while others remain skeptical about the claims made. The discussion does not reach a consensus on the possibility of breaking the speed of light or the implications of FTL concepts.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the speculative nature of some ideas regarding FTL travel and information transfer, highlighting the need for further understanding and research into these complex topics.

encorp
Hi, this would be my first post here. Although I've read the forums from afar for a few months now :)

I tried searching for the answers to my questions, but not being very well versed in the science of the matter it was hard for me to find the information I am looking for. I apologize in advance if I've stuck this in the wrong forum or these two videos have been addressed already. Let me know, I'll remember it for next time.

I have two videos regarding breaking the speed of light. It is my understanding that this is NOT possible. Can you help explain these two videos to myself, in layman's terms; I'll understand the complicated stuff but it's harder for my to articulate that than most of you guys.

For purposes of this conversation I'll number the videos; so they are easier to refer to. I didn't think this needed two posts.

Video #1


Video #2


Thanks!
 
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1. show me the math
2. show me the math
Haha. This is an exercise in aristotlean logic. No math, observational support, or anything of substance - aside from excuses and sweeping generalizations. Otherwise compelling. I would like to see the error bars on the 'experimental data' - the real ones. The plastic tubing in video 1 is hilarious. Video 2 skipped the plastic tubing and went directly to crackpottery 101.
 
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Chronos said:
1. show me the math
2. show me the math
Haha. This is an exercise in aristotlean logic. No math, observational support, or anything of substance - aside from excuses and sweeping generalizations. Otherwise compelling.

Yeah I don't agree with them at all, I'm also not educated on the matter enough to really say why the videos are most likely false.

Thanks for your reply.
 
The first video is referring to group velocity. Information is not being transmitted faster than c.
 
DavidSnider said:
The first video is referring to group velocity. Information is not being transmitted faster than c.

Sweet! I did a bit of research, it wasn't hard for me to understand group velocity and how it's still not transmitting information faster than light. Thanks!
 
I have no idea what Chronos is talking about, but, as DavidSnider pointed out, the paper was about superluminal "group velocities", and it was published.

Citation: Robertson, W., Pappafotis, J., Flannigan, P., Cathey, J., Cathey, B., and Klaus, C. “Sound beyond the speed of light: Measurement of negative group velocity in an acoustic loop filter.” Applied Physics Letters 90, 014102 (2007).
http://www.physorg.com/news88249076.html

The key point in the first video, is that there is no mass or object moving at the speed of light, or faster. I would need to read more to understand the experiment, but they appear to be toying with some complex properties of waves - in this case, sound waves.

There are exotic ideas in physics which might one day allow us to circumvent the speed of light limit. For now, at best, this is all highly speculative. It may never be possible. And even if it is one day be possible, it may never be practical.
 
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I wonder if I could start a thread about damaged artificial plant micro-environments without getting in trouble...
Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

It seems to me that the transfer of information at a speed faster than light may be the first thing to happen if faster than light travel is ever discovered, but the medium in which the information travels would have to be able to move faster than light, and as far as we know no such thing exists.
 
Pattonias said:
It seems to me that the transfer of information at a speed faster than light may be the first thing to happen if faster than light travel is ever discovered, but the medium in which the information travels would have to be able to move faster than light, and as far as we know no such thing exists.

Really, how about inflation? The Alcubierre drive idea depends on space itself as the medium.
 
So would the information transfer be the rebound effect ahead of the wave that would occur at nearly the same instant that the ripple started? I'm just trying to understand what is occurring.
 
  • #10
FTL information transfer suggests you could receive the signal before it was emitted. How paradoxical would that be? If logic traveled FTL, I should have thought of this yesterday.
 

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