Re: Speed limit at C a misconception?

On Tue, 23 Aug 2005, Skywise wrote:

> My understanding of the phrase "nothing can go faster than light"
> applies to material objects, ie spaceships, baseballs, and protons.
>
> If that is correct, then the phrase "nothing can go faster than light
> is a popular misconception" is false.
>
> Right?

The "misconception" part was the inclusion of nonmaterial objects (but see
below) in the "nothing" above. The point being the reaction that FTL phase
or group speeds elicit: "SR is falsified!" or "Isn't that prohibited by
SR?"

A complication exists, however, since one might not wish to call
information, energy, momentum, and angular momentum "material objects".
The word "thing" is such a nicely imprecise term!

Just from responses I've seen from others, not all people share your
understanding of the phrase above.

--
Timo Nieminen - Home page: http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/nieminen/
E-prints: http://eprint.uq.edu.au/view/person/Nieminen,_Timo_A..html
Shrine to Spirits: http://www.users.bigpond.com/timo_nieminen/spirits.html
.

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