Traveling at speeds close to the speed of light does not violate Einstein's theory of relativity; rather, it is an integral part of the theory. Special relativity, developed by Albert Einstein, deals precisely with the behavior of objects and observers moving at high speeds, particularly speeds that approach the speed of light.
In special relativity, there are two key principles:
The principle of relativity: The laws of physics are the same for all observers in inertial reference frames. An inertial reference frame is a non-accelerating frame of reference.
The constancy of the speed of light: The speed of light in a vacuum, denoted by "c," is constant and is the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. No observer, regardless of their motion, can measure the speed of light to be anything other than "c."
When an object travels at speeds close to the speed of light:
Time Dilation: Time dilation occurs, which means that time appears to pass more slowly for the moving object as observed from a stationary reference frame. As the object's speed approaches the speed of light, time dilation becomes more pronounced, and time appears to slow down significantly for the moving object relative to stationary observers.
Length Contraction: Length contraction also occurs, causing the length of the moving object to appear shorter along the direction of its motion as observed from a stationary reference frame. Again, this effect becomes more significant as the object's speed approaches the speed of light.
Relativistic Momentum and Energy: The momentum and energy of the moving object change according to relativistic formulas. At relativistic speeds, the classical formulas for momentum and kinetic energy are no longer valid, and the relativistic counterparts take their place.
Relativistic Addition of Velocities: When two objects move relative to each other at speeds close to the speed of light, their relative velocity is not simply the sum of their individual velocities. Instead, their relative velocity follows a relativistic formula that incorporates the constant speed of light.
Einstein's theory of relativity does not prohibit objects from approaching the speed of light but rather provides a mathematical framework to understand the changes that occur in space, time, momentum, and energy as objects move at such speeds. The theory has been experimentally verified countless times and remains one of the most successful and well-tested theories in physics.