What's the Delay with a Wire to a Planet 1 Light Year Away?

AI Thread Summary
A wireless phone call to a planet 1 light year away would have a lag of one year, as signals travel at the speed of light. Using a wire would introduce an additional delay, as transmission through a wire is slower than light speed. This means that even with a direct connection, the time taken for the signal to travel would still be significant. The discussion highlights that information cannot travel faster than the speed of light, regardless of the medium used. Ultimately, any communication with a distant planet would involve substantial delays.
IssacBinary
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If we where to make a wireless phone call to a planet 1 light year away the lag/time delay would be 1 year.

They would have to wait 1 year to hear what we say today.

But if we used a long (long is an understatement) piece of wire connecting the 2 phones, what kind of delay would there be if any and why?
 
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Transmission along a wire would be slower. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_propagation_speed"
 
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Information can never travel faster than the speed of light.
 
Doc Al said:
Transmission along a wire would be slower. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_propagation_speed"

I think energy is transmitted through the wire at the speed of greased lightning.
 
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Fun Value said:
I think energy is transmitted through the wire at the speed of greased lightning.

not exactly a scientific response ;)

D
 

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