keepitmoving said:if a flashlight is moving at half the speed of light and sending out light at a relative speed of c and then the flashlight runs into an asteroid and wham, it stops moving relative to the asteroid, does the light that has already been sent out put on its retro rockets so that is can resume its speed at c relative to the smashed flashlight?
When light from a flashlight hits an asteroid, it reflects off the surface of the asteroid in all directions. Some of the light may also be absorbed by the asteroid's surface and converted into heat energy.
Yes, the color of the light may change when it hits an asteroid. This is because the asteroid's surface may have a different composition and reflectivity than the surface of Earth. This can affect the wavelength of the light that is reflected, resulting in a different color.
Light always travels at the same speed, regardless of what it hits. This speed is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second, or about 670 million miles per hour.
Light does not have a significant effect on the trajectory of an asteroid. This is because the mass of an asteroid is much greater than the mass of a photon of light. However, if the asteroid is very small, the pressure from the light could potentially alter its course slightly.
No, it is not possible to see the light from a flashlight hitting an asteroid from Earth. This is because the distance between Earth and most asteroids is too great for the human eye to detect the light. However, specialized equipment and telescopes may be able to detect the light and its effects on the asteroid's surface.