Question

Why is the speed of light considered to be the universal speed limit, and would it be possible to ever exceed that speed with some advanced technology?

Asked by: Nakul Jeirath

 Answer

Experiments performed against Relativity predictions have all supported Einstein's conclusions about the behavior of matter as it approaches the speed of light. Particle accelerators allow direct observation of extremely high velocities of very small masses, and have confirmed to high degrees of accuracy that mass increases as objects travel near the speed of light.

Unless an experiment one day disagrees with and overturns the Theory of Relativity, it must be concluded that no acceleration in the normal sense, regardless of power source, can overcome the mass increase that demands and infinite force to just reach the speed of light, let alone exceed it.

Modern Physics can only postulate travelling from point A to point B in less time than a light beam via non-conventional 'bending' of space itself via black hole-like distortion of space. Even if that technology could be realized in the distant future, one could argue that it would not represent 'speed' in the sense of travelling THROUGH space at greater than light speed.

Answered by: Paul Walorski, B.A. Physics, Part-time Physics Instructor

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