Time and speed of light problem

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Traveling at the speed of light raises questions about aging and time relativity. While one could theoretically walk around in a rocket moving at light speed, time dilation means that an observer outside would perceive aging differently. No material object can reach or exceed the speed of light due to the laws of physics, specifically special relativity. Photons, which are massless, can travel at light speed, but any object with mass cannot. The discussion emphasizes the complexities of time, speed, and the nature of light in the context of relativity.
super_kangaro
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If you could travel at the speed of light in a rocket ship then you could still walk around in that rocket ship because time is reletive. When you are in your rocketship you would age because time is reletive but you don't age at the speed of light so how is this possible.

Please correct this because I have to be wrong about something.

Thank you for helping :smile:
 
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Yes, you can walk around.
An observer moving with respect to you would disagree that you are aging. This is because time is only relative when applied to a different frame of reference.
 
But if the rocket came to a stop after 50 years of moving at light speed would the guy in the rocket be 50 years older than he was.

If so then how is it possible that you don't age at the speed of light.
 
super_kangaro said:
But if the rocket came to a stop after 50 years of moving at light speed would the guy in the rocket be 50 years older than he was.

If so then how is it possible that you don't age at the speed of light.
He would not be. Coming to a stop is the problem. As soon as you accelerate, you experience massive gravitational time dilation.
 
So if you go the speed of light you will not be able to slow down to a stop or slow down at all?
 
Mentz114 said:
Hi super_k,

no material thing can ever be accelerated to the speed of light. See here


"no information or material object can travel faster than light."

This a quote from that wiki page.


It says material things can't go faster than the speed of light but it doesn't say they can't go as fast as the speed of light.

Photons are material things and they are light (so they are traveling at the speed of light).
 
super_kangaro said:
"no information or material object can travel faster than light."

This a quote from that wiki page.


It says material things can't go faster than the speed of light but it doesn't say they can't go as fast as the speed of light.

Photons are material things and they are light (so they are traveling at the speed of light).

Good one buddy!
However, I think, photons can go at light speed as they are massless. With increase of mass, the speed limit should decrease, due to energy requirements. So any material body can't reach the speed of light, nor can exceed it.
 
Super_kangaro,
you'd make a better lawyer than physicist. In spite of what Wiki says I stand by my original post.

Photons are material things and they are light (so they are traveling at the speed of light)
Whoever told you that is wrong. Photons do not have mass.
 
  • #10
Mentz114 said:
In spite of what Wiki says I stand by my original post.
Your post is entirely consistent with the wiki page (and would be true even if it wasn't!). Here's another quote from that same page:
wiki said:
Special relativity reveals that c is not just the velocity of a certain phenomenon, namely the propagation of electromagnetic radiation (light)—but rather a fundamental feature of the way space and time are unified as spacetime. A consequence of this is that it is impossible for any particle that has mass to be accelerated to the speed of light.
 
  • #11
Ok thanks for answering my question :approve:
 

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