4 ms·
Is it just me, or does the concept of "near speed of light" not make any sense? I was under the impression that light travels at a constant speed no matter how
by doki_pen 17y ago
Is it just me, or does the concept of "near speed of light" not make any sense? I was under the impression that light travels at a constant speed no matter how you are moving. And also, since there are no absolute coordinates, the concept of moving only make sense in relation to other things. Isn't it impossible to move "near speed of light"? Isn't light always going to move C faster then you?
- evgen 17y ago"Near the speed of light" carries with it the implicit disclaimer of "relative to a stationary observer" (that is why the theory has the word "relativity" in its name :) Light travels at C (through a vacuum) regardless of your frame of reference, so it used as the comparator for speed/velocity among different frames of reference.
- pbhjpbhj 17y agoThe speed of light in a vacuum being [constantly and universally] constant is an axiom (ie assumption, belief) of special relativity so it applies to inertial frames of reference. So, strictly it is not "regardless of your frame of reference". Accelerating frames, eg rotating or accelerating (eg under gravity where General relativity applies) require special treatments.
- twilightsentry 17y ago> Isn't light always going to move C faster then you? Yes. > Isn't it impossible to move "near speed of light"? From your perspective, you'll always be slower than light by C. Your speed relative to another observer, however, can be arbitrarily close to C. In classical mechanics, your speed relative to the other observer could add to C, resulting in "your" light, from her point of view, traveling faster than C. To avoid that discrepancy, special relativity postulates that her (or your, depending on the POV) movement through time is slowed until you both agree that light is moving at precisely C.