Travelling faster than speed of light

In summary, the idea of traveling faster than light is debatable. According to Einstein's relativity theory, it is not possible to accelerate to lightspeed. However, there is a possible loophole proposed by Alcubierre involving a warp bubble, which would allow for faster-than-light travel. This concept requires negative mass matter, which has never been observed, and there are doubts about the feasibility of creating it. Additionally, there is no mathematical explanation for how a warp bubble would form or dissipate, making the idea even more uncertain.
  • #1
shivakumar06
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can we in theory travel faster than light?
 
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  • #2
shivakumar06 said:
can we in theory travel faster than light?
No..
 
  • #3
Debatable.

Not in the conventional sense, by accelerating with a rocket. Einstein's relativity theory says that you can't accelerate to lightspeed, and the theory has passed every test we've thrown at it.

However, a man called Alcubierre developed a possible loophole. He found a solution to Einstein's equations that described a warp bubble (no, Scotty, I am not joking). You don't move, but you arrange for the patch of space-time around you to move faster than light. There are two problems that I am aware of. One, you need negative mass matter and we've never seen that, nor do we have any idea if it's possible to create. Two, the maths describes a warp bubble already in existence. We have no maths to describe a warp bubble forming or dissipating, and there is some doubt as to whether or not such maths is even possible.

All warp-related scholarship from Wikipedia and the maths is way above my head, so health warnings abound.
 

FAQ: Travelling faster than speed of light

1. Can anything travel faster than the speed of light?

No, according to Einstein's theory of relativity, the speed of light is the maximum speed at which anything can travel in the universe. It is considered a fundamental constant and cannot be exceeded.

2. What is the speed of light and how is it measured?

The speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (or about 186,282 miles per second). It is measured using various experiments and techniques, such as the time it takes for light to travel a known distance or the frequency of electromagnetic radiation.

3. Why is it impossible to travel faster than the speed of light?

According to Einstein's theory of relativity, as an object moves faster, its mass increases and time slows down. As an object approaches the speed of light, its mass becomes infinite and it would require an infinite amount of energy to accelerate it further. This makes it impossible to travel faster than the speed of light.

4. Are there any exceptions to the speed of light limit?

There are some phenomena, such as the expansion of the universe and certain quantum effects, that can appear to defy the speed of light limit. However, these are not actual instances of objects or information traveling faster than light. They are simply effects of the underlying laws of physics.

5. How does the concept of time dilation relate to the speed of light?

Time dilation is a consequence of the theory of relativity that states time passes slower for objects moving at high speeds. As an object approaches the speed of light, time would essentially stop for that object. This is why it is impossible to travel faster than the speed of light, as it would require an infinite amount of time to reach that speed.

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