• Question: let's hypothetically say you are in a car and travelling at the speed of light, what would happen if you were to turn your headlights on?

    Asked by susejdog to Damien, Rachael, Simon, Suzi, Tim on 19 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Ooh I don’t know @susejdog, good hypothetical question!

      I would imagine it would be similar to a sonic boom, but with light. A sonic boom is caused as sound waves in the air get ‘trapped’ at the front of the aeroplane travelling at the speed of sound, so they build up and eventually get pushed past, creating a boom. Perhaps the light waves would similarly get stuck at the front of the car, building up and eventually getting past and creating a flash of light behind the car.

      However, if you were going that fast I probably wouldn’t bother putting your headlights on, if there is something in your way you’re not going to be able to stop in time anyway 🙂

      What do you think would happen?

    • Photo: Rachael Ward

      Rachael Ward answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Hello susejdog

      Yeah, great question. I’m not sure either I’m afraid. Maybe the lights would be on but they wouldnt be able to shine any light in front of you because you were going at the same speed as it so it would just stay in the bulb?

      This is a pure guess though

    • Photo: Damien Hall

      Damien Hall answered on 19 Jun 2011:

      I just clicked on this question because I wondered whether anyone else knew the answer! I like Suzi’s idea, but I’m afraid I have no idea myself …

      This is a great question though. So good that everyone who is doing IAS now and is on Twitter has been told about it on there!

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