The Speed of Light

Enola Straight · Post by **Enola Straight** » 2003-02-04 05:24pm

c=299,792,458 meters per second.

Why does the universe choose this velocity?

Why not a billion meters per second? 55 miles per hour?

What mechanism compels a massless particle into this one and only velocity?

Larz · Post by **Larz** » 2003-02-04 05:48pm

Because PV=nRT, R=k[A]^m*^n, and WL(nm)= nC/(d)E... does that help... its because thats the velocity at which light particles/waves travel through a vacume, its a constant, nothing more needs to be known. Your question is sort of like "Why do humans exist? Why arn't we all just a bunch of super evolved penguins to turtles?" The answer, because thats how its worked out.

kheegster · Post by **kheegster** » 2003-02-04 06:08pm

I'm obviously not going to go through that here (partially since I haven't learnt it yet), but Maxwell's equations predict electromagnetic waves which travel at that speed, the first conclusive proof that light is actually EM radiation.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-02-04 06:09pm

you'd be wise to not throw around the ideal gas law so lightly..

:p

His question is a very good one. Theoretical physics asks this kind of question, and the answer may lead to fantastic new technologies (or the discoverer going mad).

I suggest you go to mkaku.org and email Michio.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-02-04 06:11pm

Enola Straight wrote: c=299,792,458 meters per second.

Why does the universe choose this velocity?

Why not a billion meters per second? 55 miles per hour?

What mechanism compels a massless particle into this one and only velocity?

Like Larz said: Its like asking why the universe exists.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-02-04 06:27pm

For all we know, there might be a system of units where c = 1, and all the constants of the universe are nice, round integers. It's all in our own unit definitions.

Basically, c is what it is because it's the only way anything would work.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-02-04 06:28pm

Enola Straight wrote:c=299,792,458 meters per second.

Why does the universe choose this velocity?

Why not a billion meters per second? 55 miles per hour?

What mechanism compels a massless particle into this one and only velocity?

Jesus is the answer.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-02-04 06:33pm

Basically, c is what it is because it's the only way anything would work.

Unles it wasnt, which is the point of the question: Why is it that way?

If there was no speed limit whats the result? lots of particle radiation from high energy electrons and alpha particles. Other then that, theres no change, because nothing else moves at relativistic speeds. Light doesnt count because its moving at C naturally even tho it can go faster (which has been done).

If relativity was negated tomorrow, we could use eletrons for FTL comms, but thats about it. You'd still need ridiculous amounts of energy to do anything. Relativity only really kicks in at about 99PSL, before that changes in mass are negligable. But once you hit 99.999PSL you start getting huge increases. So the only real difference is that space radiation will zoom around faster.

Enlightenment · Post by **Enlightenment** » 2003-02-04 06:42pm

Enola Straight wrote:Why does the universe choose this velocity?

It's just one of the fundamental constants of the universe. The question of why c = ~3e8m/s no more unanswerable than the question of what exists outside of the universe.

Larz · Post by **Larz** » 2003-02-04 07:00pm

If the speed of light didn't exist, then we wouldn't be around to be asking silly questions... that about sums it up...

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-04 07:07pm

Enola Straight wrote:Why does the universe choose this velocity?

Why not?

ArmorPierce · Post by **ArmorPierce** » 2003-02-04 07:15pm

Because I am actually God typing and am sending out radio signals and making my presence known through the internet

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-02-04 07:17pm

ArmorPierce wrote:Because I am actually God typing and am sending out radio signals and making my presence known through the internet

Hello, Yahweh, this is Lucifer. IOU one ass beating.

VF5SS · Post by **VF5SS** » 2003-02-04 07:20pm

Darth Wong wrote:
Enola Straight wrote:Why does the universe choose this velocity?
Why not?

The ultimate answer.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-02-04 08:12pm

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-02-04 08:41pm

Question on relativity:

If you are in a spaceship travelling at high relativistic speeds, time would pass slower, right? So then, if another spaceship travelling at low relativistic speeds (an enemy craft, mind you) would be experiencing faster time compared to you, right? Therefore, would they have an advantage in attacking you with lasers/missiles since they can react faster?

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-02-04 09:20pm

UltraViolence83 wrote:Question on relativity:

If you are in a spaceship travelling at high relativistic speeds, time would pass slower, right? So then, if another spaceship travelling at low relativistic speeds (an enemy craft, mind you) would be experiencing faster time compared to you, right? Therefore, would they have an advantage in attacking you with lasers/missiles since they can react faster?

You're traveling a fuckload faster than them, so how are they going to hit you?

XaLEv · Post by **XaLEv** » 2003-02-04 09:51pm

Durandal wrote: You're traveling a fuckload faster than them, so how are they going to hit you?

They could be far ahead of you, traveling in the same direction.

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2003-02-04 09:57pm

UltraViolence83 wrote:Question on relativity:

If you are in a spaceship travelling at high relativistic speeds, time would pass slower, right? So then, if another spaceship travelling at low relativistic speeds (an enemy craft, mind you) would be experiencing faster time compared to you, right? Therefore, would they have an advantage in attacking you with lasers/missiles since they can react faster?

Right, but in assuming you don't accelerate too much, you wouldn't know you were moving. So to you, they would be moving at relativistic speeds, and they would have the slower reflexes. It's the whole twin paradox thing.

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-02-04 09:59pm

So even though you are going faster than them, they'll still seem to be slower than you?

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-02-04 10:11pm

Relativity is one fucked up thing: from everyones point of view, everyone else is slower and smaller and heavier. Dont ask me, i dont have a fucking clue why its like that. Ask Albert.

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-02-04 10:14pm

So, in my limited understanding, since either ship sees the other as slower, more massive, etc., it's all cancelled out? Gahh, my brain!

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-02-04 10:18pm

nope, not cancelled. both see each other slower then itself. Its almost as confusing as quantum physics

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-02-04 10:26pm

Well, since they both see each other as slow, even though one ship is significantly slower than the other, it would seem to me that the slower ship can react faster. I don't know. I've read shit about how a rocket going almost the speed of light for an hour would be hundreds of years in the future to earthers, so it would seem that the inhabitants of the rocket are moving slower as seen by earthers.

Why the hell must the universe be so fucked up!?

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2003-02-04 10:53pm

UltraViolence83 wrote:Well, since they both see each other as slow, even though one ship is significantly slower than the other, it would seem to me that the slower ship can react faster. I don't know. I've read shit about how a rocket going almost the speed of light for an hour would be hundreds of years in the future to earthers, so it would seem that the inhabitants of the rocket are moving slower as seen by earthers.

Why the hell must the universe be so fucked up!?

Slow relative to what? To the other party? Assuming fairly constant speed, both will believe that they're at rest.

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