- #1
nick J
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Can anyone help me with a very basic question please.
Is it really not possible for anything to travel faster than the speed of light, as dictated by relativity theory ?
I am a complete beginner to Physics and only have very basic mathematics knowledge and I'm trying to understand the basics of relativity.
I have tried to find the answer on this forum but its mostly way above my head.
I have also been reading up as much as possible and watching various youtube videos and lectures.
In one lecture it was explained that 'relativity' actually refers to relativity of motion. The way I see it, if all motion is 'relative' then that means EVERYTHING is moving faster than the speed of light. Because something somewhere in the universe must be moving in one direction at least 60% of the speed of light and there must something else which is moving in the other direction at least 60% of the speed of light as well. Because everything's motion is relative to everything else, therefore everything has to be moving faster than the speed of light (relatively). I do understand that the speed of light is constant to all observers, but as I see it, that doesn't mean that the speed of light is a limit to how fast things can actually go.
A simpler way of looking at it, is two different light beams going in opposite directions - relative to each other they are both traveling faster than the speed of light (to an external observer).
So can someone please tell me if I am understanding this correctly ?
Is it really not possible for anything to travel faster than the speed of light, as dictated by relativity theory ?
I am a complete beginner to Physics and only have very basic mathematics knowledge and I'm trying to understand the basics of relativity.
I have tried to find the answer on this forum but its mostly way above my head.
I have also been reading up as much as possible and watching various youtube videos and lectures.
In one lecture it was explained that 'relativity' actually refers to relativity of motion. The way I see it, if all motion is 'relative' then that means EVERYTHING is moving faster than the speed of light. Because something somewhere in the universe must be moving in one direction at least 60% of the speed of light and there must something else which is moving in the other direction at least 60% of the speed of light as well. Because everything's motion is relative to everything else, therefore everything has to be moving faster than the speed of light (relatively). I do understand that the speed of light is constant to all observers, but as I see it, that doesn't mean that the speed of light is a limit to how fast things can actually go.
A simpler way of looking at it, is two different light beams going in opposite directions - relative to each other they are both traveling faster than the speed of light (to an external observer).
So can someone please tell me if I am understanding this correctly ?