Possible for electrons to escape this speed limit.

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the inaccuracies found in general physics textbooks regarding electron speeds exceeding the speed of light. Participants agree that such instances are mistakes, often resulting from authors creating problems without proper reality checks and misapplying Newtonian physics beyond its limits. There is a specific mention of the Giancoli Physics textbook, with some users noting a significant number of errors in its advanced high school edition compared to the version used for scientists and engineers. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by students in navigating these inaccuracies.
Ebolamonk3y
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I seen times in general physics book for sections with problems concerning the electron that their speeds in some answers come above that of speed of light... I wonder if this is a common recurring mistake or if it is possible for electrons to escape this speed limit.
 
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It's a mistake, of course. It most likely comes from authors (or their minions) making up problems from thin air without doing a reality check. Blindly using Newtonian physics outside of its range of applicability can produce some silly results.
 
:) Those graduate students! I swear... If you have used the Giancoli Physics for Advance Highschool students you will find TONS of mistakes in there... :(
 
yeah we use Giancoli for scientists and engineers and there arent as many mistakes in here
 
Heh... that's good!
 
Hey ebola what are you majoring in btw?
 

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