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Astrophysics/speed of light
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Question
Hello,
I was wondering, did Einstein say NOTHING could go faster than the speed of light (particles etc. included) or just that any object with mass like cars couldn't go faster than the speed of light?
Thankyou for your time and help,
Alice
Neither. Relativity determines that nothing with mass can accelerate to the speed of light because it would require infinite energy. However, particles that are created with velocities which are faster than light (tachyons is the formal term for them) can indeed travel faster than light. It's kinda like the sound barrier, in a roundabout way.
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Steve Nelson
Expertise
Fusion, solar flares, cosmic rays, radiation in space, and stellar physics questions. Generally, nuclear-related astrophysics, but I can usually point you in the right direction if it's not nuclear-related or if it's nuclear but not astrophysics.
Experience
Currently a physics professor at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Doctoral dissertation was on a reaction in CNO-cycle fusion, worked in gamma-ray astronomy in the space science division of the naval research laboratory in the high-energy space environment branch.
Organizations
Physics professor at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in physics, research was on nuclear fusion reactions important in stellar fusion.
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