+9 votes
in Relativity physics by
edited by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
+3 votes
by

According to our current understanding of physics, gravity cannot be used to directly enable faster-than-light travel. The theory of relativity, which encompasses both special relativity and general relativity, establishes the speed of light in a vacuum (denoted by "c") as an absolute speed limit in the universe.

Special relativity, formulated by Albert Einstein, states that as an object with mass accelerates towards the speed of light, its relativistic mass increases, requiring more and more energy to continue accelerating. As an object with mass approaches the speed of light, its energy requirements would become infinite, making it impossible to reach or exceed the speed of light.

General relativity, on the other hand, describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects. It does allow for the warping of spacetime, which can result in phenomena like wormholes or the theoretical concept of "warp drives." However, these ideas remain purely speculative and are not yet supported by experimental evidence or a complete theoretical framework.

Even if one were to speculate that gravity could be harnessed to distort spacetime in a manner that allows for faster-than-light travel, it is important to note that the current understanding of the universe does not provide a clear path or mechanism for achieving such a feat. It would require overcoming significant technical and theoretical challenges, many of which remain unexplored or unresolved.

It's worth emphasizing that the speed of light is deeply ingrained in the structure of the universe as we currently understand it. While scientific progress could bring new insights and discoveries in the future, for now, faster-than-light travel remains speculative and outside the realm of our current scientific knowledge.

Welcome to Physicsgurus Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...