Why Does the Speed of Light Remain Constant When Moving in an Airplane?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the constancy of the speed of light when emitted from an airplane in motion. Participants explore the implications of this phenomenon within the framework of relativity and its departure from classical physics concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why the speed of light remains constant when emitted from a moving airplane.
  • Another participant explains that velocities do not combine in the same manner under relativity as they do in classical physics, suggesting a specific equation for further exploration.
  • A third participant references a previous thread that may provide additional context or information on the topic.
  • Another participant asserts that the constancy of the speed of light is fundamentally supported by experimental evidence, implying that theoretical explanations are secondary to this empirical observation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the explanation for the constancy of light's speed; multiple viewpoints and references to different frameworks exist without resolution.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not clarify specific assumptions or definitions regarding the velocities involved, nor does it resolve the mathematical implications of the relativistic framework presented.

sirissa
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We know that light propagates in a constant speed c, but what if we are moving in an air plane and then turning on the light, why the speed of light remains constant?...
Thank u.
 
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Velocities don't "add" the same way in relativity as they do in classical physics.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relativ/einvel.html

In the equation on the page above, let u' = c (velocity of the light with respect to the airplane) and see what you get for u (velocity of the light with respect to the ground).
 
The real answer is "because that's what experiment tells us". Everything else is derived from that.
 

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