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
Great question. I’ve often wondered if I had a length of rope laid out 100km and I pulled it, would the other end move towards me immediately?
Based on this, I believe not. Every part along the way would progressively stretch and move until the end did (it sounds like at the SoS).
In the same way, when a train pulls away from a station there is a brief period in which the front of it is in motion while the rear is stationary.
For those who know what they’re talking about: why does the rope move at the speed of sound? Of all speeds, why that?
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