According to our current understanding of physics, as described by Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, it is impossible for an object with mass to reach or exceed the speed of light in a vacuum. This principle is known as the "speed limit" of the universe.
There are a few reasons why this is the case:
Energy and Mass: As an object with mass accelerates, its energy increases. According to relativity, as an object approaches the speed of light, its energy and momentum increase without bound. As an object with mass approaches the speed of light, the energy required to accelerate it further also increases. In other words, an infinite amount of energy would be required to accelerate an object with mass to the speed of light, which is not attainable in practice.
Time Dilation: As an object accelerates towards the speed of light, time dilation occurs. Time dilation means that time slows down for the moving object relative to a stationary observer. As the speed of light is approached, time dilation becomes more pronounced, and from the perspective of the moving object, time effectively comes to a standstill at the speed of light. This effect is a fundamental aspect of relativity and would require infinite time for an object with mass to reach or exceed the speed of light.
Mass Increase: According to relativity, as an object accelerates, its relativistic mass increases. As an object approaches the speed of light, its mass would theoretically become infinite. This would require an infinite force to continue accelerating the object, which is not physically achievable.
These principles imply that it is not possible for an object with mass to achieve or exceed the speed of light. However, it's important to note that these limitations apply to objects with mass. Photons, which are particles of light, travel at the speed of light because they have zero rest mass.
It's worth mentioning that scientific understanding can evolve, and new discoveries or theories might provide further insights into the nature of the universe. But based on our current understanding, the speed of light acts as an ultimate cosmic speed limit for objects with mass.