Nothing is faster than Light, Right?

In summary, the conversation discusses the idea of a rod being used to convey a message, which raises the question of whether the message can travel faster than the speed of light. The rod is described as being 1 light year long and made of steel to prevent bending. It is then pushed and pulled, causing it to move and potentially convey the message faster than light. The possibility of this happening is questioned and readers are directed to a forum for further information.
  • #1
Algren
74
1
First of all, let's consider that this question is asked before neutrino's speed was discovered.

" Let's consider a rod, a rod which is as long as 1 light year.

Consider that it is a rigid rod of steel with diameter 1m (to prevent bending)

I gave a nudge to it from one side, then the whole rod will displace, right?

For example, i pushed the rod by 1m, then the rod will move 1m, right?

Ohh, look what happened! Something went faster than light! A lot faster! "

If you didnt get the above case, ill explain what happened:

I used the rod to send a 'message' by pushing and pulling it. Hence, it traveled faster the speed of light, since it conveyed the message through 1 light year almost instantly.

If you disagree with the above, give approximations of the speed of the message, if its not faster than 'c'.
 
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  • #2
Please read the FAQ in the Special & General Relativity forum about this question. The signal propagates at the speed of sound in the rod.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=536289

.
 
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Related to Nothing is faster than Light, Right?

1. Is it really true that nothing is faster than light?

Yes, according to the theory of relativity, the speed of light in a vacuum is the ultimate speed limit in the universe. Nothing, including particles or information, can travel faster than the speed of light.

2. What about quantum entanglement? Doesn't it violate the speed of light?

No, quantum entanglement does not violate the speed of light. While it may appear that information is being communicated faster than the speed of light, in reality, the information is not being transmitted, but rather the state of the particles is being correlated through non-local interactions.

3. Can anything ever break the speed of light?

No, as far as we know, nothing can ever break the speed of light. The closer an object gets to the speed of light, the more mass it gains, making it increasingly difficult to accelerate. This phenomenon is described by Einstein's famous equation E=mc².

4. What about the expansion of the universe? Isn't it faster than the speed of light?

The expansion of the universe is not faster than the speed of light. While the space between objects is expanding, the objects themselves are not moving faster than the speed of light. In fact, the expansion of the universe is not limited by the speed of light, as it is a change in the fabric of space itself, rather than an object moving through space.

5. Why is it so important that nothing can travel faster than light?

The speed of light plays a crucial role in our understanding of the universe. It helps us calculate distances between objects, determine the age of the universe, and even explains the behavior of objects at high speeds. Without this limit, our current laws of physics would break down and our understanding of the universe would drastically change.

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