What If the Speed of Light Were No Longer Constant?

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If the speed of light were no longer constant, it would fundamentally alter the laws of physics, debunking both special and general relativity. This change could allow objects to exceed light speed and result in photons having mass, leading to a complete reworking of electromagnetic theory. The discussion highlights that without a constant speed of light, many established physical principles would need to be rewritten, including the nature of spacetime and the behavior of particles. Speculation on the implications of such a scenario suggests that the universe could behave in unpredictable ways, challenging our understanding of reality. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the critical role of the speed of light in modern physics and the extensive consequences of its variability.
  • #31
Hi Antonio,

Yes, permittivity and permeability are two properties which affect the speed of light.

I would propose that there are other properties which MAY affect it also.

What about effects from such phenomena as spatial curvature, virtual particle flux, quantum vacuum fluctuations, etc.

juju
 
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  • #32
juju said:
What about effects from such phenomena as spatial curvature, virtual particle flux, quantum vacuum fluctuations, etc.
Virtual photons created from quantum vacuum fluctuations don't stay around long enough for their speeds to be measured.
I'm not sure space curvature slows the speed of light. I'm checking on this. But there is such a thing as gravitational redshift, the decrease of photon's energy by gravity field.
 

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