• Question: Will man ever go faster than the speed of light?

    Asked by tomg44 to Charlie, Eoin, Jemma, Julian, Steve on 21 Mar 2011.
    • Photo: Julian Rayner

      Julian Rayner answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Hi tomg44. Not a physicist, but my understanding is that Einstein says no, and if Einstein says it, I believe him.

    • Photo: Stephen Moss

      Stephen Moss answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Hi Tomg44

      No, and in fact man will probably never even get close to the speed of light. To go faster than light would mean going back in time – a great idea for movies and books, but it’s not going to happen.

    • Photo: Charlie Ryan

      Charlie Ryan answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Hi no we won’t probably. And it’s unlikely that we will ever approach the speed of light.I think as you approach the speed of light it gets harder and harder to go that bit faster.
      So unless warp drives or worm holes comes along, then no!

    • Photo: Eoin Lettice

      Eoin Lettice answered on 18 Mar 2011:

      I’m pretty sure that man on his/her own won’t go faster than light. And I don’t think it’s possible to build a spaceship to do it. But i’m not a physicist so I’m open to correction!
      Eoin

    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 21 Mar 2011:

      Erm, I think that Einstein’s theory of relativity suggests we can’t go faster than the speed of light (although I’m not sure why). Charlie will probably have a much better answer for you though!

Comments