3 ms·
Think like it is a shadow or a light trace. If you point a laser pointer device to moon from earth (assuming it's a really strong laser), rotating it for a few
by diegoperini 7y ago
Think like it is a shadow or a light trace.
If you point a laser pointer device to moon from earth (assuming it's a really strong laser), rotating it for a few degrees on earth will result a light mark kms long on moon. The build up time for the mark will even exceed the speed of light if your hand is fast enough. This doesn't mean you broke the law. It just means multiple objects (in this case, each photon hitting the moon) created the illusion of a single object, moving really fast. Background light trying to reach us from the edge of the universe mimics a similar behavior with the added extra spacial dimension. Locations in space aren't objects. They are some points objects can leave marks on. Tracking their speed can always create faster than light situations if you pick a bunch of them conveniently.