Q: Is there a prototype vehicle that can go faster than the speed of light?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of traveling faster than the speed of light, exploring both humorous and serious perspectives on the feasibility and implications of such a scenario. Participants engage in a mix of jokes, hypothetical situations, and technical considerations related to speed, light, and transportation.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • One participant humorously suggests that there is a prototype vehicle capable of exceeding the speed of light, but the headlights operate at the conventional speed of light, leading to a comedic analogy about driving.
  • Another participant questions the seriousness of the initial claim, pointing out that the linked content is a collection of physics jokes.
  • Some participants assert that it is impossible to drive at the speed of light, citing practical issues such as fuel consumption and costs.
  • A participant humorously mentions a petrol shortage affecting speed limits, implying a cultural context to the discussion.
  • There are playful comments about light and darkness, with one participant joking that darkness always precedes light.
  • One participant proposes a hypothetical machine that ejects massless particles at the speed of light, offering it for sale as a joke.
  • Several humorous anecdotes about driving laws and behaviors are shared, reflecting regional driving cultures.
  • Two participants share a humorous story about the "sex life of an electron," blending technical terms with playful narrative.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach a consensus, as the discussion includes both serious and humorous takes on the topic, with some asserting impossibilities while others engage in light-hearted banter.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes a mix of serious and humorous contributions, with some participants using technical language in a playful context. The blending of jokes with scientific concepts may lead to misunderstandings regarding the seriousness of the claims made.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in the intersection of physics and humor, as well as those exploring the cultural implications of scientific concepts in everyday life.

arbol
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Faster then c
Q: Why is the speed of light only 186,000 miles per second? Can't science do better than this?
A: Yes, you're right. It's a disgrace that light only goes a measly 186,000 miles per second, but physicists are working on the problem. There is already a prototype vehicle that goes 200,000 miles per second, but the headlights shine at only 186,000 miles per second. This is equivalent to driving down the freeway the wrong way with the headlights not only *out* but also chasing you down the road. This is why so many scientists today no longer own a driver's license. Ask Dr. Science

http://www.utc.edu/Academic/PhysicsGeologyAstronomy/PhysicsHumor2.php
 
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Is this meant to be a joke? The link is a link of physics jokes...
 
It's impossible to drive at the speed of light. At 35 mpg and with a 19 gallon tank, you'd have to stop for gas 280 times per second. And it would cost you over $21,000 a second.
 
Hello arbol.

There's a petrol shortage due to a strike over here in England so we are rationed which means we are limited to the speed of light anyway. This being Europe of course the speed of light is slower anyway.

Matheinste.
 
Light is so slow

The Dark always beats it.
the dark is always there before the light.

:) just fun
 
hehe
 
id hate to think of what little jonny looks like after he strolls out into the street to get his little toy ball and a vehicle traveling faster than the speed of light obliterates him.
 
There's no reason to drive the speed of light, anyway. You only have to drive fast enough for the Doppler shift to turn the yellow lights green.
 
Can we even simulate the speed of light?
 
  • #10
I have perfected a little machine that runs on flashlight batteries. It ejects tiny massless particles at the speed of light. I'll sell you one for only $100.
 
  • #11
In New Mexico, yellow lights mean "Speed up and keep going!" and red lights mean "Oops ;) guess I should speed up because its just going to turn green again."
 
  • #12
You know BobG, that would make a good bumper sticker for down here, except 80% of the populations is too stupid to even remotely get it. You could market in the Los Alamos and Albuquerque (for the Sandia workers) though...
 
  • #13
BobG said:
It's impossible to drive at the speed of light. At 35 mpg and with a 19 gallon tank, you'd have to stop for gas 280 times per second. And it would cost you over $21,000 a second.
Just a little faster and you can get there before you left.
Gas problem solved. :biggrin:
 
  • #14
I am a fan of the red bumper stickers "If this is blue then you are driving too fast!"
 
  • #15
Sex life of an electron
One night, when his charge was full to capacity, Micro Farad decided to get a cute little coil to discharge him. He picked up Millie Amp and took her for a ride on his megacycle. They rode across the wheatstone bridge, into a magnetic field, next to a flowing current , to watch the sine waves.
Micro Farad, attracted by Millie's characteristic curve, soon had her field fully excited. He laid her on the ground potential, raised her frequency, lowered her resistance, and pulled out his high voltage probe. He inserted it parallel and began to short circuit her shunt.
With her tube at maximum output and her coil vibrating from current flow, her shunt reached maximum heat. The excess current had gotten her shunt pretty hot and Micro's capacity was rapidly discharged and drained off ever electron. They fluxed all night and tried various connections and sockets, until his bar magnet had lost its field strength.
Afterwards, Millie Amp tried self induction and damaged her solenoid. With her capacity fully discharged, Micro Farad was unable to excite his transformer, so they ended up reversing polarity and blowing each others fuses.



Nice
 
  • #16
tacosareveryyum said:
Sex life of an electron
One night, when his charge was full to capacity, Micro Farad decided to get a cute little coil to discharge him. He picked up Millie Amp and took her for a ride on his megacycle. They rode across the wheatstone bridge, into a magnetic field, next to a flowing current , to watch the sine waves.
Micro Farad, attracted by Millie's characteristic curve, soon had her field fully excited. He laid her on the ground potential, raised her frequency, lowered her resistance, and pulled out his high voltage probe. He inserted it parallel and began to short circuit her shunt.
With her tube at maximum output and her coil vibrating from current flow, her shunt reached maximum heat. The excess current had gotten her shunt pretty hot and Micro's capacity was rapidly discharged and drained off ever electron. They fluxed all night and tried various connections and sockets, until his bar magnet had lost its field strength.
Afterwards, Millie Amp tried self induction and damaged her solenoid. With her capacity fully discharged, Micro Farad was unable to excite his transformer, so they ended up reversing polarity and blowing each others fuses.



Nice

Wow...
 

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