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falling faster than light


gib65

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What would happen to an object if it were free falling for enough time to allow its velocity to reach the speed of light. It shouldn't be able to go faster than light, right? So what happens if it has some ways left to fall?

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What would happen to an object if it were free falling for enough time to allow its velocity to reach the speed of light. It shouldn't be able to go faster than light, right? So what happens if it has some ways left to fall?

 

The situation can never happen. The closer you get to the speed of light the shorter the distance to your destination (length contraction). You will always hit the source of gravity before you reach the speed of light relative to that source.

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The situation can never happen. The closer you get to the speed of light the shorter the distance to your destination (length contraction). You will always hit the source of gravity before you reach the speed of light relative to that source.

 

Ah, length contraction.

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