Speed of light as an impossibility

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of reaching the speed of light, particularly in the context of theoretical physics and speculative technologies such as warp drives and faster-than-light (FTL) travel. Participants explore the implications of relativity and the ongoing discourse among scientists regarding these ideas.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why discussions about reaching the speed of light continue despite relativity stating it is impossible.
  • Others inquire about specific scientists or sources discussing these possibilities, indicating a lack of clarity on who is involved in such discussions.
  • One participant mentions warp drives and other FTL methods, suggesting that these concepts are often misunderstood as being about traveling faster than light.
  • A participant explains that a warp drive would create a bubble in spacetime, allowing for shorter distances without exceeding the speed of light, while also raising concerns about inertia.
  • Another participant asserts that no modifications to relativity allow for exceeding the speed of light and claims that no real scientists are currently working on such technologies.
  • Questions are raised about potential time dilation effects if an Alcubierre drive were to function as theorized.
  • There is a discussion about the relationship between mathematical formulations and their applicability to the physical world, referencing historical interpretations of scientific results.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the validity and relevance of discussions surrounding FTL travel and warp drives. There is no consensus on whether these concepts are scientifically viable or merely speculative.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the distinction between theoretical discussions and practical scientific work, indicating that many mathematical models may not directly correspond to physical realities. There are also unresolved questions about the implications of concepts like the Alcubierre drive.

Vals509
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why is it that despite that relativity says that you cannot reach the speed of light scientists are still discussing the possiblity of reaching such a speed. have they modified the theory to reach the speed or is it something else?
 
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Which scientists and where are they discussing it?
 
i was referring to scientists in general. its just that i have read some articles on reaching the speed of light like warp drive and other FTL methods
 
Can you give us their names, then? Where are you reading this?
 
Watch more discovery channel.
 
Vals509 said:
i was referring to scientists in general. its just that i have read some articles on reaching the speed of light like warp drive and other FTL methods
Warp drive is not FTL. It is about taking a shortcut; it is not about going fast.

You will have to be more specific about "other FTL methods".
 
actually what a warp drive does, in a nutshell, is that it creates a bubble by deforming the space-time so that the distances are (much much much much) shorter - within the bubble you would still travel at speed less than c and you would actually be in a state of free fall thus dealing with a potential problem of inertia dampening <- it'd be quite ingenious if we could pull it off

read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
 
Last edited:
Vals509 said:
why is it that despite that relativity says that you cannot reach the speed of light scientists are still discussing the possiblity of reaching such a speed. have they modified the theory to reach the speed or is it something else?

Short answer: No. To all of that. No modifications allow for such a thing. Also, no real scientists are working on such a thing. Hypothetical space travel, like warp, etc. have nothing to do with approaching/exceeding the speed of light, they have more to do with the topology of spacetime.
 
If we could get the Alcubierre drive to work, would there be any time dilation effects?
 
  • #10
You can read about the Alcubierre drive in Wikipedia at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive


Keep in mind that while SOME of mathematics applies to the physical world, much of it does NOT. A big piece of science is figuring out what mathematical formulations might apply to the real world...how to solve those...and when something unexpectedly pops out, how to interpret the result.

The expansion of the universe was rather plainly a result of Einsteins general relativity, yet he missed that physical interpretation...he refused to believe it...Similarly many formulation results explained aspects of black holes and appeared for years before leading scientists understood what they were looking at...Kip Thorne has some fascinating explanations of the latter in BLACK HOLES AND TIME WARPS
 

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