Over heard this conversation last week.

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:20 pm

Picture this. Two dudes who have never met (one was a friend). This stranger comes up to him and says

"Can I ask you a question..."

"Yes"

"Picture yourself in a vehicle, any vehicle and you're travelling at the speed of light. You're travelling at the speed of light and you turn your headlights on. What happens?"

valuetime · Post by **valuetime** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:22 pm

DBoy · Post by **DBoy** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:24 pm

i don't understand how the computer knows which one i am looking at? I mean how does it know which one to stop?

Ag3nT[]0raNg3 · Post by **Ag3nT[]0raNg3** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:24 pm

only the space behind you will be lit up innit

you would need to turn them on a good while before hand to be able to see anything! haha.

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:25 pm

Ag3nT[]0raNg3 wrote:only the space behind you will be lit up innit

So like, leave a trail of light?

Post by **breaksRbest** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:26 pm

I think I heard that in a movie once

Guyno · Post by **Guyno** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:27 pm

breaksRbest wrote:I think I heard that in a movie once

X2

Ag3nT[]0raNg3 · Post by **Ag3nT[]0raNg3** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:28 pm

lynt wrote:
Ag3nT[]0raNg3 wrote:only the space behind you will be lit up innit
So like, leave a trail of light?

no. maybe not. the light will be traveling with you. but it wont leave a trail and it cant go any faster to illuminate the area in front of you.

dunno tho. your car prolly fell apart or ran out of fuel a couple of seconds ago.

great_magnet · Post by **great_magnet** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:28 pm

To extrapolate the theory further: what happens if you break the speed of sound right in the middle of a good tune? Will the sonic boom fuck your speakers?

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:28 pm

breaksRbest wrote:I think I heard that in a movie once

Probably, but this was a genuine conversation, random as.

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:29 pm

Ag3nT[]0raNg3 wrote:
lynt wrote:
Ag3nT[]0raNg3 wrote:only the space behind you will be lit up innit
So like, leave a trail of light?
no. maybe not. the light will be traveling with you. but it wont leave a trail and it cant go any faster to illuminate the area in front of you.

Like riding a tram and then jumping and not flying to the back of the tram, but landing in the same spot sorta... hmm

valuetime · Post by **valuetime** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:32 pm

i think the answer is something like this: when you get close to travelling at the speed of light, time slows down and distances becomes shorter. so the headlights would appear to shine normally to the driver, but not to anyone else. light travels at the same speed no matter how fast you're going.

i think this has been tested and proven.

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:36 pm

Anyone have a spare BTTF Delorium to test? Im not doing much at work, can test over lunch break.

Post by **system** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:37 pm

the speed of light will be different between the outside and the inside of the car, due to the difference in enviromental factors (atmospheric components, etc). the theory of special relativity rears its ugly head.

that said, you most likely will see the light from the headlights, due to the fact that all elements are travelling at the same speed.

Guyno · Post by **Guyno** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:37 pm

I think the speed of light is merely a measurement that light takes to get form "ignition" point A to an expanse of space being point B.(I'm sure I didn't shine any breakthrough revelations just there!) I wouldn't think regardless of the speed of movement at any such time their would be any difference made to how a beam of light is projected considering the light source is moving at the same speed as the movement source, ie, fuck off fast space vehicle.....my 2 cents

A. I think you would still see a forward projected light source as if the vehicle was standing still.

Post by **system** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:39 pm

valuetime wrote:light travels at the same speed no matter how fast you're going.

i think this has been tested and proven.

it's more of a postulate, as in a base assumption on which the theory is based.

Fents wrote:Anyone have a spare BTTF Delorium to test? Im not doing much at work, can test over lunch break.

but it only gets up to 88MPH.

Prontoid · Post by **Prontoid** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:39 pm

i think this question is answered in Carl Sagans book "Cosmos" from memory - if not something very similar

bennyk · Post by **bennyk** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:41 pm

omg i so have to smoke up and read this thread again

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:43 pm

system wrote:
Fents wrote:Anyone have a spare BTTF Delorium to test? Im not doing much at work, can test over lunch break.
but it only gets up to 88MPH.

88 mph = 39.33952 m / s

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:44 pm

e = mc2

the speed of light is the conversion point at which energy becomes mass. my (crap) understanding is that to the bystander it would appear that when you turn the headlights on that the headlights will appear to gain mass

This is why you can't go faster than the speed of light, because any energy that would propel you faster than the speed of light becomes mass therefore making the thing heavier and increasing the amount of energy required to make said thing travel at its current velocity. This is why you can't travel faster than the speed of light

I'm sure I'm way off but it's something like that.

valuetime · Post by **valuetime** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:45 pm

system wrote:
Fents wrote:Anyone have a spare BTTF Delorium to test? Im not doing much at work, can test over lunch break.
but it only gets up to 88MPH.

you're forgetting the 1.21 gigawatt factor tho. marvel at this huge number.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=& ... tnG=Search

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:46 pm

valuetime wrote:
system wrote:
Fents wrote:Anyone have a spare BTTF Delorium to test? Im not doing much at work, can test over lunch break.
but it only gets up to 88MPH.
you're forgetting the 1.21 gigawatt factor tho. marvel at this huge number.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=& ... tnG=Search

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:47 pm

From a comedy festival show last night. Apprently the dude overheard this.

"So, have you like ever heard anythign that made you go woah"

"Nah, but some people say I'm all psychic"

"Woah"

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:49 pm

The idea of headlights is to project light. What about other lights in the vehicle, dash board, gadgets and such. What would happen?

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:50 pm

The real question is:

if you are in a car and travelling at the speed of light does that mean you can't be pinged by a red light camera?

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:51 pm

jbs wrote:The real question is:

if you are in a car and travelling at the speed of light does that mean you can't be pinged by a red light camera?

They couldn't see you anyway, you're travelling at the speed of light.

valuetime · Post by **valuetime** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:51 pm

lynt wrote:The idea of headlights is to project light. What about other lights in the vehicle, dash board, gadgets and such. What would happen?

they emit light, same as the headlights. would appear completely normal.

valuetime · Post by **valuetime** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:52 pm

lynt wrote:The idea of headlights is to project light. What about other lights in the vehicle, dash board, gadgets and such. What would happen?

they emit light, same as the headlights. would appear completely normal.

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:52 pm

valuetime wrote:
lynt wrote:The idea of headlights is to project light. What about other lights in the vehicle, dash board, gadgets and such. What would happen?
they emit light, same as the headlights. would appear completely normal.

Explain emit lights different to projecting light... ultimately it's based on the same principle... light photons illuminating a source (I think). Headlights project because of bad arse mirrors and brightness levels.. still the same thing. yeah?

valuetime · Post by **valuetime** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:53 pm

yeah, headlights are more luminous and focused, that's all.

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:56 pm

valuetime wrote:yeah, headlights are more luminous and focused, that's all.

Hmmzmzzz

valuetime · Post by **valuetime** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:58 pm

i'm sure if we revisited this conversation mid-chop, it'd be more interesting.

Post by **system** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:58 pm

speed is a relative concept, I think is the point.

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:08 pm

valuetime wrote:i'm sure if we revisited this conversation mid-chop, it'd be more interesting.

It's food for thought...

almax · Post by **almax** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:24 pm

darkness is not the opposite of light, it is the absense of light...

Post by **lynt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:28 pm

http://www.intheabsenceoflight.com/

deviant · Post by **deviant** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:35 pm

mrj wrote:e = mc2

the speed of light is the conversion point at which energy becomes mass. my (crap) understanding is that to the bystander it would appear that when you turn the headlights on that the headlights will appear to gain mass

This is why you can't go faster than the speed of light, because any energy that would propel you faster than the speed of light becomes mass therefore making the thing heavier and increasing the amount of energy required to make said thing travel at its current velocity. This is why you can't travel faster than the speed of light

I'm sure I'm way off but it's something like that.

yeah, a molecular mass will become infinitely heavy at the speed of light.

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:53 pm

like this

or something

Post by **breaksRbest** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:56 pm

ask Dr Karl (not Lynt, the one from JJJ)

I think he's been asked this before, so it's probably in his book

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:07 pm

Dr Karl (not Lynt) is an idiot.

For some reason he seems to believe that if you say something quickly, loudly, and with enough authority that this makes it true.

This is not the case, it only makes it quick and loud. Sort of like sex with an adolescent Panda. Perhaps more painful though.

great_magnet · Post by **great_magnet** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:14 pm

mrj wrote: Sort of like sex with an adolescent Panda. Perhaps more painful though.

I don't think it's that black and white mate...

ADD_Boy · Post by **ADD_Boy** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:15 pm

great_magnet wrote:
mrj wrote: Sort of like sex with an adolescent Panda. Perhaps more painful though.
I don't think it's that black and white mate...

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:16 pm

great_magnet wrote:
mrj wrote: Sort of like sex with an adolescent Panda. Perhaps more painful though.
I don't think it's that black and white mate...

Hmm....its possible that I've endangered my argument

freo43 · Post by **freo43** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:19 pm

LMFAO!!!!!
So glad i joined this board on a Friday

great_magnet wrote:
mrj wrote: Sort of like sex with an adolescent Panda. Perhaps more painful though.
I don't think it's that black and white mate...

great_magnet · Post by **great_magnet** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:19 pm

mrj wrote:
great_magnet wrote:
mrj wrote: Sort of like sex with an adolescent Panda. Perhaps more painful though.
I don't think it's that black and white mate...
Hmm....its possible that I've endangered my argument

I think that may have happened previously when you intimated that you have indulged in sexual congress with a rare teenage bear, purely for comparative purposes. Or maybe that's just me...

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:25 pm

great_magnet wrote:
mrj wrote:
great_magnet wrote: I don't think it's that black and white mate...
Hmm....its possible that I've endangered my argument
I think that may have happened previously when you intimated that you have indulged in sexual congress with a rare teenage bear, purely for comparative purposes. Or maybe that's just me...

well, I heard they were dying out, and that they sometimes have trouble in getting them to mate. We all have to do what we can to save the Panda's you know.

I was actually just trying to impress this conservationist chick.

She wasn't.

I'm meeting the Panda for drinks on saturday though (paws crossed all goes well)

mixtress · Post by **mixtress** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:29 pm

mrj wrote:Dr Karl (not Lynt) is an idiot.

For some reason he seems to believe that if you say something quickly, loudly, and with enough authority that this makes it true.

This is not the case, it only makes it quick and loud. Sort of like sex with an adolescent Panda. Perhaps more painful though.

Halle-fucking-ujah. I have the same dislike for Karl. Used to love him until I started listening to him on the radio everyday and found so many faults in his answers that I lost all respect for him. Sad day

Did you know that if you left the earth in a spaceship and travelled for 10 earth years at the speed of light toward an object, then returned, you would be younger then when you left or at least wouldn't have aged at all?! This is where the time space continuum kicks my ass. On earth, you would be aging in earth time, but hurtling through space at the speed of light means you age at a slower rate b/c time is stopping for you.

As an object accelerates, time slows down relative to that object. It would seem to the traveller that time would have stopped, because nothing is travelling faster than him.

Even though it's been proven impossible, if you could travel faster than the speed of light, you'd be able to take off and turn around to watch yourself taking off.

Head fuck or what! FMF where are you??

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:29 pm

Guyno wrote:I think the speed of light is merely a measurement that light takes to get form "ignition" point A to an expanse of space being point B.(I'm sure I didn't shine any breakthrough revelations just there!) I wouldn't think regardless of the speed of movement at any such time their would be any difference made to how a beam of light is projected considering the light source is moving at the same speed as the movement source, ie, fuck off fast space vehicle.....my 2 cents

A. I think you would still see a forward projected light source as if the vehicle was standing still.

I'm with you Guynocerous

great_magnet · Post by **great_magnet** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:31 pm

mrj wrote:
great_magnet wrote:
mrj wrote: Hmm....its possible that I've endangered my argument
I think that may have happened previously when you intimated that you have indulged in sexual congress with a rare teenage bear, purely for comparative purposes. Or maybe that's just me...
well, I heard they were dying out, and that they sometimes have trouble in getting them to mate. We all have to do what we can to save the Panda's you know.

I was actually just trying to impress this conservationist chick.

She wasn't.

I'm meeting the Panda for drinks on saturday though (paws crossed all goes well)

Good luck with that mate, I'd suggest taking her to the Bamboo House so she feels comfortable. Either that or tell the bar staff that you're on a location scout for the upcoming TV campaign for a new range of Bundaberg Rum pre-mixed drinks and the bear wanted to "get into character".

mixtress · Post by **mixtress** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:34 pm

mrj wrote:
great_magnet wrote:
mrj wrote: Hmm....its possible that I've endangered my argument
I think that may have happened previously when you intimated that you have indulged in sexual congress with a rare teenage bear, purely for comparative purposes. Or maybe that's just me...
well, I heard they were dying out, and that they sometimes have trouble in getting them to mate. We all have to do what we can to save the Panda's you know.

Yeah well, do you know why they're having trouble getting Panda's to mate? It could be because the aphrodesiac the Chinese are giving them is Ground Panda Penis.