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”?

588 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

34 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

No, the speed of light is represented by c and it is useful to not think of this as the speed of light but as the speed of causality (even though that c means constant.) So things like the effect of curved space-time due to gravitational effects can also only move “at the speed of light.” Therefore to answer your question the fastest “instant” could be is the speed of light….if the pole was several light years long it would take a very long time for the end of the stick to move….as I assume the stick will have some mass and with that in mind could not travel at the speed of light…..ugh my head hurts…..no, no it would not.

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