If an engine was on while in outer space, would you keep accelerating at an exponential rate? This seems possible to me, and if it actually is so, couldn't you get close to traveling at the speed of light, but never actually obtaining that speed?
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That's right, you would approach the speed of light but never reach it.
Let's say the force from the engine is constant.
Then these graphs will show your speed:
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7154/…
Before Einstein, it was believed that your speed would increase at a constant rate. (green graph)
But Einstein discovered that you would approach the speed of light, but never reach it. (blue graphs)
Side note: There are two blue graphs, because time would behave differently to you than to someone on Earth. Graph 1 is what you (in the spaceship) would observe, graph 2 is what the Earth would observe. That means: This is a way to travel to the future.
Let's say the force from the engine is constant.
Then these graphs will show your speed:
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7154/…
Before Einstein, it was believed that your speed would increase at a constant rate. (green graph)
But Einstein discovered that you would approach the speed of light, but never reach it. (blue graphs)
Side note: There are two blue graphs, because time would behave differently to you than to someone on Earth. Graph 1 is what you (in the spaceship) would observe, graph 2 is what the Earth would observe. That means: This is a way to travel to the future.
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I think you're confusing speed with distance travelled.
If we don't involve relativity, then:
– The acceleration would be constant
– The velocity would increase at a constant rate
– The distance traveled would increase at an increasing rate
If we don't involve relativity, then:
– The acceleration would be constant
– The velocity would increase at a constant rate
– The distance traveled would increase at an increasing rate
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You either misunderstand what exponential means, or what acceleration means. Acceleration is a proportional increase in speed over time. Exponential means that the increase of something is increasing in itself.
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What ever the distance is between two objects in a vacuum of space and had no particles in between, you would be able to travel at speeds greater than light. however once you start hitting too many particles at the speed of light you are finished.
Space is huge. If I was beyond the known universe, beyond the blackness of black, away from any physical object that the Big Bang blasted away deep into space. If I were way out there. What physical laws am I bound by? None! There is no physical object why out there. not even an atom! I could travel at 1000 times the speed f light and would feel like I was walking. you see what I mean?
Space is huge. If I was beyond the known universe, beyond the blackness of black, away from any physical object that the Big Bang blasted away deep into space. If I were way out there. What physical laws am I bound by? None! There is no physical object why out there. not even an atom! I could travel at 1000 times the speed f light and would feel like I was walking. you see what I mean?
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