If I have solid rod several light year long and I push one of the ends. How long will it take for the other end to be pushed?

Question

Will it take years for the “movement” to be felt from the other end?

In: 19

Answer 1

The speed of a mechanical pressure wave in a solid object is the speed of “sound” in that object. It is much much much less than the speed of light. So it would take many years indeed before the other end reacts to the pressure of the push.