According to the theory of special relativity, as an object approaches the speed of light, time dilation occurs, where time appears to move slower for the moving object relative to a stationary observer. However, it's important to note that time dilation does not allow one to "stop" time entirely.
In the context of time dilation, the closer an object's velocity gets to the speed of light (299,792,458 meters per second in a vacuum), the more pronounced the time dilation effect becomes. As the velocity approaches this limit, time dilation becomes increasingly significant.
To quantify the effect of time dilation, we can use the Lorentz factor (γ), which is a function of velocity. The formula for calculating the Lorentz factor is:
γ = 1 / √(1 - v²/c²)
In this equation, v represents the velocity of the object relative to an observer, and c represents the speed of light.
As v approaches c, the denominator of the equation approaches zero, and the Lorentz factor approaches infinity. However, it's important to note that this is a mathematical limit, and reaching the speed of light is not currently achievable for massive objects due to the principles of relativistic physics.
In practical terms, it is not possible for an object with mass to reach or exceed the speed of light. As an object with mass approaches the speed of light, its energy requirements and relativistic effects become increasingly difficult to manage.
Therefore, while traveling at extremely high speeds relative to an observer can result in significant time dilation, it does not allow for the complete cessation or stopping of time.