gib65 Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
losfomot Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaAotS Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Like the last guy said. The object would have to free fall for an infinite amount of time to reach light speed or more. Since that's impossible the situation is impossible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gib65 Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDNA Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 speed of light? what happened to terminal velocity = 150ft/sec? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane_alien Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 terminal velocity only occurs within an atmosphere. the less atmosphere, the higher the terminal velocity. until a vacuum when you have 3e8 m/s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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