I understand the math that Cecel Adams presented in The Straight Dope about this question. However, isn’t the more practical, more pertinent answer, a one of simple reality? The energy present in the material of a gun and its ammunition will become energy expressed by light at the speed of light. Therefore, the gun powder used to make the bullets travel faster than the gun will not exist in any different a state of energy composition than the gun itself [at the speed of light].
The simple reality is that asking a question involving an object with rest mass (like, say, a gun) just plain doesn’t make sense. Such a question no more has an answer than does the question “uioegvh fcyu lawelgy?”.
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You fool! You’re using the classical definition of “fcyu.” Obviously, it can’t be 12, since wiuhs uigij sjys.
ergo “42”
I thought you could only say “fcyu” in The Pit. I suppose, however, that if you were traveling near the speed of light then you could say it and no one would comprehend you.
If you imagined traveling with the cosmic microwave background radiation signature of the universe, maybe it would be an intelligible e.m. signal saying something like, “Oh no, not again.”
The speed of light cannot be exceeded?
A physical mass cannot exceed the speed of light, in relation to a linear speed, but this is a very self limiting view.
You have to remember that the speed of light is based on a linear evaluation of space, time and motion, which might be suitable for determining the approximate speed of a bus or train, but light? Come on, give us a break man.
Calculating the speed of light to be exactly 299,792,458 meters per second is an abstract idea at best and has no corresponding relationship to universe.
So what is this really all about, this determination to hold the line when we live in a simultaneous universe. I think you’re beating a dead horse Cecil.
Have you read the book Unity over at http://www.gravitycontrol.org ? Give is some thought!
The speed of light cannot be exceeded?
A physical mass cannot exceed the speed of light, in relation to a linear speed, but this is a very self limiting view.
You have to remember that the speed of light is based on a linear evaluation of space, time and motion, which might be suitable for determining the approximate speed of a bus or train, but light? Come on, give us a break man.
Calculating the speed of light to be exactly 299,792,458 meters per second is an abstract idea at best and has no corresponding relationship to universe.
So what is this really all about, this determination to hold the line when we live in a simultaneous universe. I think you’re beating a dead horse Cecil.
Have you read the book Unity over at http://www.gravitycontrol.org ? Give it some thought!
Would this be the book written by one David Barclay?
Ooo, you know it’s legit because they have a futuristic logo.
I thought it was legit because it had a movie trailer about UFOs - “The Quest for Gravity Control. The movie in search of a beginning.” I think that last sentence sums it up quite well.
Why settle for a slow bullet? 
Let’s fire photon torpedoes! :eek:
From a treadmill!
No, only if the thing you are firing ends in -gry. All nine yards of it.
I’m familiar wth the works of Smith. His name’s a legend on hotel registers the world over!
Humor aside, this is of course absolute nonsense. The speed of light is determined empirically and was first measured by Ole Roemer in the 17th century. It’s not an abstract idea at all.
Not an abstract idea? Really, then what is a second if not an abstract creation.
Run into any absolute seconds or meters lately?
If you don’t get it that’s cool, but to say its nonsense is a bit of a stretch.
You employ static terms to describe a dynamic condition and think nothing of it, which suggests that perhaps you are not thinking.
In order for light to travel one meter in exactly 1/299,792,458ths of a second requires that all 299,792,458 portions of a second be of the same absolute duration. If they are not of the same absolute duration you can hardly say that the measurement is exact. It’s an approximation and nothing more, in relation to a linear concept of time, space and motion.
This being the case, you have convinced yourself that light is in linear motion. The same exact perception you have of a bus or train in motion. Therefore you conclude or Cecil concludes that the speed of light cannot be exceeded.
I think that simultaneous might be a bit faster than light speed.
I’ve got a feeling that, if we all get into this, it’ll run twelve pages and look like the “life after life” threads we used to have with that fellow we haven’t seen for a while.
You’re right, except that fellow is back, if we’re thinking of the same person. Check out the “consciousness” thread in GD.
However, I can’t resist pointing out that arbitrary doesn’t mean the same thing as abstract.
I’ll stop now.