Can we achieve speed of light in space?

Can we achieve speed of light in space?

Based on our current understanding of physics and the limits of the natural world, the answer, sadly, is no. According to Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity, summarized by the famous equation E=mc2, the speed of light (c) is something like a cosmic speed limit that cannot be surpassed.

Why is speed of light limited?

That something, the universal conversion factor, is the speed of light. The reason that it is limited is simply the fact that a finite amount of space is equivalent to a finite amount of time. Mathematically, the wave equation that describes light as an electromagnetic wave would lose its time-dependence.

Why can’t we travel the speed of light?

The speed of light in a vacuum is an absolute cosmic speed limit. According to the laws of physics, as we approach light speed, we have to provide more and more energy to make an object move. In order to reach the speed of light, you’d need an infinite amount of energy, and that’s impossible!

Is there a limit to the speed of light in spacetime?

Spacetime is not expanding with respect to anything outside of itself, so the the speed of light as a limit on its velocity doesn’t apply. Yes, galaxies outside of our Hubble sphere are receding from us faster than the speed of light.

Is there a speed limit for matter in the universe?

If you don’t have mass, you must move at the speed of light; if you do have mass, you can never reach it. But practically, in our Universe, there’s an even more restrictive speed limit for matter, and it’s lower than the speed of light. Here’s the scientific story of the real cosmic speed limit.

Is it possible to exceed the speed of light?

But under the laws of relativity, you can never reach, much less exceed, the speed of light if you’re made of matter. (Jedimentat44 / flickr) But there’s no such thing, practically, as a perfect vacuum.

Do particles with mass travel at the speed of light?

All massless particles travel at the speed of light, including the photon, gluon and gravitational waves, which carry the electromagnetic, strong nuclear and gravitational interactions, respectively. Particles with mass must always travel at speeds below the speed of light, and there’s an even more restrictive cutoff in our Universe.