Question regarding the speed of light and relativity.
So as I understand relativity, the speed of light is always relative to the particular frame of reference in which it is measured. From point x, the speed of light is c regardless of the speed or position of point x. Right? It takes something like 8 minutes for light to travel from the Sun to the Earth. If I am in a spaceship traveling from the sun to the earth at the speed of light (for the sake of the question, it is possible). From my point of reference, the light from the sun is traveling speed c away from me, correct? So, would the light traveling away from my ship reach the Earth in less than eight minutes? I don't have it totally understood, but I'm assuming time dilation has something to do with the answer.
Also, If I am flying through space couldn't it be said that I am moving with respect to every frame of reference there possibly is? Which means that I am both moving and not moving, depending on which frame of reference I am compared to. So, if I am traveling at the speed of light, and light is traveling at speed c away from me, could I not theoretically accelerate to the speed of the light which is moving away from me, with respect to my own frame of reference? That last part is a bit confusing and probably just silly, but It'd be cool to read some comments.
Posted Dec 2, 2011, 12:41 AM UTC