polywog999 Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Light travels at: 186,282.397 miles per second in a vacuum. You are moving at .999999 times the velocity of light. The space ship traveling behind you turns on it's headlights. 1) At what speed do you measure the light coming from the other spaceships headlight? 2) What is the speed of that light as measured by the other spaceship's pilot? 3) How fast is the light as measured by a "stationary" space station? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I could be wrong, but my understanding is that the speed of light is a constant relative to everyone regardless of motion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polywog999 Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 I could be wrong, but my understanding is that the speed of light is a constant relative to everyone regardless of motion. Thank you, but this does not answer my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Thank you, but this does not answer my question. well each of your questions is about how everyone observes the speed of light. The answer to each, assuming my first post was correct, is 186,282.397 miles per second Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polywog999 Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 well each of your questions is about how everyone observes the speed of light. The answer to each, given that my first post was in fact correct, is 186,282.397 miles per second I could be wrong ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 ? well lets just say I haven't studied special relativity. I'm pretty sure its right, but I don't want to give the notion that I'm an expert on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF44 Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 You will all see the speed of light as the speed of light, what changes is time and distance. As you approach the speed of light time slows and distances appear different depending on your relative view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCSaints_fan Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Light travels at the same speed in any inertial(non-accelerating) frame of reference. This is one of the two axioms of special relativity (the other being that the laws of physics are the same in any inertial frame). That fact, and its implications (time dilation) has been consistent with all our observations thus far. Assuming the spaceships aren't accelerating, they will all measure the same speed, c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s =~ 186,000 miles per second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polywog999 Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 This is a question for everyone. All answers will be treated with respect. No one will need to prove that they are qualified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 This doesn't answer your question either, but when I was a kid, I once asked my mom "If you're on the Concorde, going faster than the speed of sound, can you talk to the person in front of you?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polywog999 Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 I am impressed....so far. [smile] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Did the spacecraft in back of you turn on its headlights because your left turn blinker has been on for the last 25 light years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjah Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 It's either 2 or 288. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Light travels at: 186,282.397 miles per second in a vacuum. You are moving at .999999 times the velocity of light. The space ship traveling behind you turns on it's headlights. Well, from the other thread we know that .999999...=1 therefore you are traveling at the speed of light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Well, from the other thread we know that .999999...=1 therefore you are traveling at the speed of light. traveling at the speed of light minus. I have the last post therefore my word is supreme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Did the spacecraft in back of you turn on its headlights because your left turn blinker has been on for the last 25 light years? I lol'd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGoodBits Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I know the answers, but first I need about $3.50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 The answer is 42. :geek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Poly, Im not sure of the answer to what you are asking, but it made me think of another question. If you are going a fixed rate of high speed in your space craft and turn the headlights on, is the light eminating from the headlights going faster then the speed of light at that point, being that the origin of the light is traveling at a high rate of speed? I saw a tv show on the science channel with a Scientist explaining that if you were on a high speed train that was going the speed of light, and you stood up and started running as fast as you could from the back of the train to the front of the train, you would essentially be moving faster then the speed of light because the train you are on is going the speed of light and then you began to run, increasing the speed of your overall movement. So Im wondering if this would hold true for the light coming from the headlight, especially being that the speed of light is a constant. ( I think it is anyways) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polywog999 Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 Now you guys are having fun! My kind of thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I saw a tv show on the science channel with a Scientist explaining that if you were on a high speed train that was going the speed of light, and you stood up and started running as fast as you could from the back of the train to the front of the train, you would essentially be moving faster then the speed of light because the train you are on is going the speed of light and then you began to run, increasing the speed of your overall movement. And if you were on speed-of-light Metro, you know that train operator would see you running and tap the brakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polywog999 Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 Poly, Im not sure of the answer to what you are asking, but it made me think of another question.If you are going a fixed rate of high speed in your space craft and turn the headlights on, is the light eminating from the headlights going faster then the speed of light at that point, being that the origin of the light is traveling at a high rate of speed? I saw a tv show on the science channel with a Scientist explaining that if you were on a high speed train that was going the speed of light, and you stood up and started running as fast as you could from the back of the train to the front of the train, you would essentially be moving faster then the speed of light because the train you are on is going the speed of light and then you began to run, increasing the speed of your overall movement. So Im wondering if this would hold true for the light coming from the headlight, especially being that the speed of light is a constant. ( I think it is anyways) The answer to your q is no. The speed of light my not travel faster than 182, 282,397 mps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 And if you were on speed-of-light Metro, you know that train operator would see you running and tap the brakes. , then your speed would really increase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF44 Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Poly, Im not sure of the answer to what you are asking, but it made me think of another question.If you are going a fixed rate of high speed in your space craft and turn the headlights on, is the light eminating from the headlights going faster then the speed of light at that point, being that the origin of the light is traveling at a high rate of speed? I saw a tv show on the science channel with a Scientist explaining that if you were on a high speed train that was going the speed of light, and you stood up and started running as fast as you could from the back of the train to the front of the train, you would essentially be moving faster then the speed of light because the train you are on is going the speed of light and then you began to run, increasing the speed of your overall movement. So Im wondering if this would hold true for the light coming from the headlight, especially being that the speed of light is a constant. ( I think it is anyways) It's all relative and depends on the each observers relative rest frame. There is no "right" answer for everyone, it all depends where you are relative to what you are viewing/measuring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 , then your speed would really increase. Find x, where x is equal to the rate at which your ass smashes your skull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.