If I were to take a really really really (light years) long stick and push something on the end of it, would it happen “instantly”?

635 viewsOtherPlanetary Science

Obviously theoretical but if I took a light year long stick and say pushed a button at the other end would that button be pushed at the same time for me as say someone standing at the button? How does the frame of reference work when physically moving something? And could that “work” as a method of instant communication?

In: Planetary Science

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Follow on question: the induced movement would propagate through the rod at the speed of sound in whatever material it is made of, since that is the speed at which waves propagate from molecule to molecule. What happens if your rod is a reasonably rigid material that is one singular molecule, as can be the case in rubber tires or certain plastics? How would that influence the speed of sound in the material?

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