Funny and confusing question.

[Patrick]

OK, this one's been bothering me. Maybe a physicist out there can help me. Somehow you manage to get a car to travel at the speed of light (And don't say its impossible; lets just pretend). What would happen when you turned on the headlamps? There's probably a very simple answer that I've overlooked. Enlighten me!

[Neruo]

Ok it's not possible. But hey. I guess if it was...the fotons would pile up in the lamp and you would explode? And so would the cow?

[OpheliaBlue]

lol?

[Ynot]

I think a similar question is in extended (or philosophy) either light goes same speed as car, and so stays within the lamp or speed is relative - the projector is going speed of light, so the projectee goes twice speed light dunno

[AlternateReality]

Well im completely guessing here but the speed of light is how long it takes you to see the light. Since your going faster then the light....you wouldnt see it. But the source of the light is going faster then the light... so...wow...lol Save the cow? Well maybe you add the speed of light + your speed...i dont know

[Ynot]

Originally posted by AlternateReality Well im completely guessing here but the speed of light is how long it takes you to see the light. Since your going faster then the light....you wouldnt see it. * But *the source of the light is going faster then the light... so...wow...lol Save the cow? Well maybe you add the speed of light + your speed...i dont know there's a parrot in here

[Neruo]

Originally posted by Ynot there's a parrot in here Is there a pirate under it aswell? Perhaps the fotons would go 2 times as fast. Light speed is not allways the same too. And black holes can attract light, so there has to be a point around a black hole with some trapped fotons, btw... But that is irrevelant. intresting question. Allso, becouse light is made up of waves, like sound, perhaps the same thing as with a sonic-boom would happen... the fotons just pile up. And say 'ploop' .

[Jalexxi]

Originally posted by Pensive Patrick Somehow you manage to get a car to travel at the speed of light (And don't say its impossible; lets just pretend). What would happen when you turned on the headlamps? Let me get this straight. You want a logical awnser to what would happen in an impossible situation? Well, let me awnser that for you. When you turn on the headlights, for all birds, gravity reverses with every flap of their wings. Birds will shoot up into the sky, and as soon as they flap their wings, they come crashing back to earth. When they try to save themselves from immenent death by flapping again, they will shoot back up into the sky. For all mammals, gravity would turn sideways, and everyone would suddenly be pulled to the left. Left being absolute to everyone. For example, if you are talking to someone, you would suddenly be pulled to the left, but you would also see the person opposite to you move to the left, even though that actually is to his right. Conversely, he would start falling towards the left (your right), and see you falling along with him to your right. So all mammals will start falling to all possible lefts. For fish, gravity turns into some type of icky immortality goo. Fish will forever be weightless, but they pay the price by being covered in slime for the rest of eternity. I hope that clears up things. Sincerely, - Jalexxi

[AlternateReality]

Originally posted by Ynot there's a parrot in here Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:51 pm Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:54 pm I thought slower then you.

[Ynot]

Originally posted by AlternateReality I thought slower then you. Nah, I'm just a demon typist

[bochen4]

First, it would take more than all the energy in the universe to propel your hypothetical car to exactly the speed of light. In fact it would take infinite energy to do so. You will not have enough energy left to turn on your headlights. You can ‘take the limit’ so to speak of reaching the speed of light, you can Get closer and closer but never actually reaching it. But to answer your question, The light from the headlights would still travel at the speed of light. Not any faster. Instead of a sonic boom (where all the sound energy is concentrated in nearly one location) you will get a photonic boom. And God said, LET THERE BE LIGHT!

[mongreloctopus]

Doppler effect

[bochen4]

Originally posted by mongreloctopus Doppler effect Not quite. They use different sets of equations. The speed of sound is not constant. It changes with respect to factors such as temperature and altitude. The propagation of light through vacuum however, is always constant. (I'm assume through a vacuum in empty space, becuase if you are traveling through any other medium, you can forget about reaching anywhere near the speed of light) (Unless the spaceship was designed by our heavenly Father, through him all things are possible) For acoustic effects concerning sound, the form of the Doppler equations depends partly on the state of motion of the sound medium (usually air) relative to the source and detector. For "optical" effects concerning light and other electromagnetic radiation, the newer “relativistic Doppler” equations associated with special relativity are currently considered to be the correct set to use.