Physics Q: Travel Faster than Light? E=MC^2?

[Universe_Man]

This may sound mind numbingly stupid to those who are seasoned in Physics, but how do we know that it is impossible to travel faster than light? Have there been tests or experiments? and also, what does the speed of light have to do with the amount of energy in a given amount of mass (E=MC^2)?

Thanks

 

[russ_watters]

Particle accelerators test it every day. If f=ma held at high-speed, they'd be accelerating particles to much faster than the speed of light.

 

[jasc15]

is it just because of the infinite energy requirement from 1/((1-(v/c)^2))^.5)?

 

[Farsight]

Actually, it is possible to travel faster than light.

Cerenkov radiation is the blue glow in reactor pools that can be likened to a "sonic boom" caused by neutrons traveling faster than light in water.

http://www.physics.upenn.edu/balloon/cerenkov_radiation.html

Or did you mean faster than c?

You need Inflation Theory then!

http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/home/John_Gribbin/cosmo.htm

 

[SpaceTiger]

Or did you mean faster than c?

You need Inflation Theory then!

Even now, there are parts of the universe receding from one another at rates faster than c, but this is not quite the same as traveling at faster than c. The overall expansion of space is not restricted in the same way as objects traveling through it. Unless one believes in tachyons, it's not possible to travel faster than the speed of light within the bounds of mainstream theory.