Changing of one of the previous topics

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In summary, the conversation discusses the idea of seeing oneself in a mirror while traveling at the speed of light, which is impossible according to the theory of special relativity. The question is then changed to whether an image of oneself can be seen at the speed of light, but this also seems impossible due to the constant speed of light. The conversation concludes that this is a poorly-defined question and that it is only possible to answer if we leave it as "close to the speed of light." However, this still presents issues as it requires something to move even faster than light, which is impossible.
  • #1
dasher
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in one of the previous topics, it was suggested that if one carries a mirror and travels at a speed of 0.99c, he will still see his own reflection in the mirror because the theory of special relativity states that the speed of light is constant in all inertial frames. However, what if i change this question a little and say that i am traveling at the speed of light, c? will i still see my image in the mirror? i doubt so since i think there wouldn't be any reflection of light then.
 
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  • #2
dasher said:
in one of the previous topics, it was suggested that if one carries a mirror and travels at a speed of 0.99c, he will still see his own reflection in the mirror because the theory of special relativity states that the speed of light is constant in all inertial frames. However, what if i change this question a little and say that i am traveling at the speed of light, c? will i still see my image in the mirror? i doubt so since i think there wouldn't be any reflection of light then.

As has been said over and over again, you can't travel at the speed of light (only Freddy Mercury can...:smile:). It's impossible. Kiss that goodbye.
 
  • #3
OOO said:
As has been said over and over again, you can't travel at the speed of light (only Freddy Mercury can...:smile:). It's impossible. Kiss that goodbye.
what i mean is "IF". if i do, what will i see in the mirror?
 
  • #4
dasher said:
what i mean is "IF". if i do, what will i see in the mirror?
It's a poorly-defined question. Relativity doesn't allow it, so you'd have to outline a specific alternative theory in order to get a specific answer.
 
  • #5
:confused: so does this mean that i can only answer the question if i leave it as "close to the speed of light"?
 
  • #6
dasher said:
what i mean is "IF". if i do, what will i see in the mirror?

"IF" something false is true then anything is true. Ex falso quod libet.

But if you like to abuse your imagination then you may think of an image of you looking in the mirror. If that image is sent to some distant star by a digital transmission then most likely the bits representing the mirror will always have the same distance from the bits representing your eyes. But again, that's not you looking in the mirror at the speed of light, but an image of you looking in the mirror at the speed of light.
 
  • #7
dasher said:
:confused: so does this mean that i can only answer the question if i leave it as "close to the speed of light"?

If you intend to know something about physics then the answer is definitely yes.
 
  • #8
OOO said:
As has been said over and over again, you can't travel at the speed of light.
But this is not really important for the question, because it can easily be rephrased as follows. Seeing yourself in the mirror means that you can indirectly (i.e., via light) interact with the mirror without actually coming to the position of the mirror. So can light indirectly interact with the mirror before coming to the position of the mirror? The answer is - of course not, because in order to do that light should emit something that moves even faster, which is impossible.
 
  • #9
I repeat: ex falso quodlibet. You can prove anything from falsity.
 

FAQ: Changing of one of the previous topics

How does changing one of the previous topics affect the overall outcome of the experiment?

Changing one of the previous topics can have a significant impact on the results of an experiment. It can alter the variables being tested, potentially changing the outcome of the experiment and making it difficult to draw accurate conclusions.

What steps should be taken to ensure that changing a previous topic does not compromise the validity of the experiment?

To ensure the validity of the experiment, any changes to previous topics should be carefully considered and documented. It's important to clearly state the reasons for the change and any potential impact it may have on the results. Additionally, it's important to repeat the experiment with the changed topic to confirm the results.

Can changing a previous topic improve the accuracy or reliability of the experiment?

In some cases, changing a previous topic can improve the accuracy or reliability of the experiment. For example, if the initial topic was found to be flawed or biased, changing it can lead to more accurate results. However, any changes should be carefully evaluated to ensure they do not introduce new biases or variables.

How can changing a previous topic affect the interpretation of the results?

Changing a previous topic can greatly impact the interpretation of the results. It could potentially lead to a different conclusion or explanation of the data. It's important to carefully consider how the change may affect the interpretation and make any necessary adjustments to accurately reflect the new topic.

Are there any ethical considerations when changing a previous topic in an experiment?

Ethical considerations should always be taken into account when changing a previous topic in an experiment. Changes that could potentially harm human subjects, animals, or the environment should be carefully evaluated and approved by an ethics committee before proceeding. It's important to prioritize the well-being of all involved in the experiment.

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