Light Speed

The Speed of Light, or Light Speed, is the maximum possibble speed in the N-Space universe, and is a constant speed of 299,792.458 km/s (often expressed as 3×10⁸ m/s) in vacuum at which any particle of zero rest-mass (such as the photon) will automatically propagate. This value is commonly abbreviated as "c".

Description (Specifications)

Background: Special Relativity

Mass-Energy Equivalency Principle

According to the mass-energy equivalency principle arising from the Special Theory of Relativity, the energy of any particle may be described by the equation:

• E = mc²

where:

m = mass

c = speed of light

Thus, any particle has an intrinsic "rest-energy" (E₀) as defined by its mass while motionless (its "rest-mass", m₀), independent of any kinetic energy it may acquire due to motion, as described by the equation:

• E₀ = m₀c².

By extension, an object has a "kinetic mass" (m_k) due to its kinetic energy (E_k) while in motion relative to an independent observer that is in addition to its rest mass (m₀):

• E_k = m_kc²

or

• m_k = E_k / c²

Thus, as an object accelerates relative to an independent observer, its total mass (m_tot) increases:

• m_tot = m₀ + m_k = (E₀ / c²) + (E_k / c²)

The "total energy" (E_tot) of a particle is described as the sum of its rest energy (E₀) and its kinetic energy (E_k) by the following equation:

• E_tot = E₀ + E_k = m_oc² / (1 - v²/c²)^½

As a consequence, a constant force applied to a particle will produce a continually decreasing acceleration as its mass increases with velocity, implying that in fact F ≠ ma, but rather F ≈ ma for small enough values of velocity. Thus, due to the equivalency principle of mass and energy, as m → ∞ with increasing velocity, a → 0, asymptotically approaching a maximum velocity. This limiting velocity is the maximum speed of the universe, and is also the constant speed at which zero-rest mass particles (such as photons and gravitons) propagate. It is thus impossible to accelerate an object with non-zero rest mass to the speed of light in a finite amount of time, or alternatively, it would require an infinite force (and/or an infinite amount of energy) to produce the acceleration necessary to accelerate a non-zero rest mass particle to the speed of light.

Lorentz-contraction and Time-dilation

No information currently available.

• Speed of light constant is the same in all inertial reference frames, independent of observer motion.
• Time dilation: t = t_o / (1 - v²/c²)^½
• Lorentz-contraction: l = l_o × (1 - v²/c²)^½

Light speed as a distance metric

• Mention of Light-year and Parsec

History & Background (Dossier)

No information currently available.

• Mention of FTL and NAFAL

References & Contributors (Sources)

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