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Author Topic: Could the speed of light be a different number?  (Read 807 times)

Offline XrightyX

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #30 on: July 06, 2005, 06:05:47 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Holden McGroin

Gravity "bends" light, not because photons have mass, as they do not have mass, but because gravity effects the shape of spacetime.
 


Photons do not have any resting mass is as much as we can say about their mass.

Edit:  Was thinking a bit more.  Photons do have momentum, which is classicly = mass * velocity, however, we're dealing with relativity/quantum mechanics, so classic mechanics are off....but, sort of makes the point that we can only say they don't have a resting mass....
« Last Edit: July 06, 2005, 06:13:01 PM by XrightyX »
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Offline Holden McGroin

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #31 on: July 06, 2005, 06:21:12 PM »
While you are correct, rest mass of a particle which by definition must move is somewhat a useless concept.

If an object at rest has a mass M, moving at a speed v it will have a mass M/sqrt(1 - v²/c²). As an object approaches the speed of light, the mass increases without limit.

Because photons are light they are not at rest... they are moving at the speed of light.  Therefore, since a photon travels at the limit of speed, it must either have no mass or relativity says it's mass is infinite.
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Offline Holden McGroin

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #32 on: July 06, 2005, 06:30:32 PM »
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Originally posted by TheDudeDVant
So my question would be..

Can gravity influence time as well?


Yep.

Clocks do not tick in a black hole.  (forgetting that the clock would be destroyed anyway.)
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Offline OOZ662

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #33 on: July 06, 2005, 06:57:33 PM »
And then there's the fact that we're relying on un-perfect balls of flesh to perceve it on. What we believe to be the speed of light, whether it's proven or rightfully debated, may be different from what a perfect measuring "eyeball" would see. And yet, there is no such thing.

Man that sounded nerdy.
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Offline Holden McGroin

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #34 on: July 06, 2005, 07:10:09 PM »
You misspelled "perceive" so at least you aren't perfect.;)
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Offline OOZ662

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #35 on: July 06, 2005, 07:58:37 PM »
Pishaw, it was a typo. I meant to spell it as "perceive."
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Offline Martlet

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Re: Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #36 on: July 06, 2005, 08:02:00 PM »
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Originally posted by Meatwad
Back when, how did they come up with the answer that the speed of light travels 186,000 miles/second? What if the number is really a different number, and all calculations to different stars/systems are actually closer or farrther away?


I'm sorry squaddie, but you obviously have far too much free time on your hands.
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Offline Meatwad

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #37 on: July 06, 2005, 10:47:00 PM »
That and when I am tired and bored, I like to think about complex stuff like that.
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Offline Lizking

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #38 on: July 06, 2005, 10:54:28 PM »
The speed of light is no more constant then the length of a meter.  It is precisley what we say it is, no more, no less.
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Offline Shane

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #39 on: July 06, 2005, 10:57:02 PM »
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Originally posted by JB66
In 1999, a team of scientists led by Lene Hau were able to momentarily stop a beam.

Ok...this is what I was think of...



i accomplish on a daily basis, multiple times, what it takes a team of scientists to achieve.

it's called...

flipping the switch.

sheesh... :rolleyes:
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Offline Shane

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #40 on: July 06, 2005, 10:58:24 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by TheDudeDVant
So my question would be..

Can gravity influence time as well?


ask any middle-aged person...
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Offline AmRaaM

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #41 on: July 06, 2005, 11:04:56 PM »
lemme ask Scotty..

Scotty:dammit captain she's giving all she's got!
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Offline Masherbrum

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #42 on: July 07, 2005, 12:24:19 AM »
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Originally posted by ASTAC
Cool! "The Dark Side of the Moon" Album cover!


Beat me to it!

Karaya
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Offline Lizard3

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #43 on: July 07, 2005, 12:37:34 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by TheDudeDVant
So my question would be..

Can gravity influence time as well?


Ah, alas I do not know. I do know that speed affects time, like the Stein said, Dude 20 years old travels to a place 20 light years away at light speed and comes back home everyone is a hundred, but Dude is only 25. So, the faster you go the slower you age. Run everywhere, drive really really fast or fly if possible and you will stay young...or die fast.
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Offline FiLtH

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Could the speed of light be a different number?
« Reply #44 on: July 07, 2005, 12:52:35 AM »
I believe they clocked light back in 1972 in the salt flats..at 185,968...they were gonna try for the 186,000 but had a broken part and had to call it a day.
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