What Happens When You Pull a 5-Light-Second Ribbon?

[mdl]

hi, this just came into my mind yesterday (while trying to sleep)..

i've got a very long, unstretchable ribbon. one end is installed on a plug of laser beam (turned off). the other end is in my hand. the ribbon is 5 light seconds long.

what happens, if i pull the ribbon?

a) i'd see the laser is on after 10 seconds => the ribbon was stretched or the space did something (what?)
b) i'd see the laser on after 5 seconds => the information traveled faster than light
c) .. ?

thanks
mdl

 

[JesseM]

The simple answer is that unstretchable rigid objects are impossible in relativity--see here.