My Twittersphere Is Teeming With Physics Geeks

Light Speed
Originally uploaded by bradwilsonem

What started out as a discussion/bet with my husband this morning shed some light on just how seriously geeky my Twitter followers are, God love all of them/you. Read on. (Complete with hilarious Star Wars reference in response to Question 2.)

Question 1: Does electricity travel at the speed of light? (He thought yes; I thought it was more complicated than that. I'm right. ;).)

Responses:

kevinmarks: @dhowell electrical signals in a cable travel around a third the speed of light. Particle accelerators get small masses close to lightspeed.
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:33 PM

symtym: @dhowell re electricity more, the speed of light (c) expressed in relationship to the absolute value in vacuo, 300,000m/s, Cu gets 99.9% c
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:32 PM

symtym: @dhowell re: electricity, must distinguish electrons (generate EM field) from photons (carry EM field, near speed of light) http://is.gd/LrJ
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:27 PM

RoudyBob: @dhowell Not exactly but very close. Speed of light measured in a vacuum is faster than an electromagnetic field moves thru matter (wire)
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 10:05 AM

cherot: @dhowell Electricity is slower in wire, light slower in glass.
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 9:48 AM

dangillmor: @dhowell depends on the conductor.
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 9:28 AM

Sibby: @dhowell speed of light is a constant. Electricity varies with the medium it is traveling.
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 9:24 AM

pcubed: @dhowell Sorta. Particle medium of the electromagnetic force is the photon. Force of electrons b/w each other moves at C. dm me 4 more info.
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 9:23 AM

extra_ketchup: @dhowell electricity travels fast but electrons have mass and thus cannot reach C.
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 9:22 AM

Question 2: Besides electricity, does anything else move at or near light speed?

Responses:

ChrisMcKinney: @dhowell Radio
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 2:25 PM

chipthamac: @dhowell a pulse of light that enters a transparent chamber filled with caesium gas reaches speeds 300 times the normal speed of light.
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 2:11 PM

cherot: @dhowell XRays
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:53 PM

symtym: @dhowell other things at "c," the wiggle answer — any massless object can get up to c in vacuo http://is.gd/Lsg
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:42 PM

pcubed: @dhowell No, acc. to Sp. Relativity faster u go more massive u become. Moving at C = infinite mass. Small stuff goes fast-ish (Neutrinos eg)
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:40 PM

Peloden: @dhowell Things that travel at the speed of light — light; electromagnetic waves in a vacuum.
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:36 PM

(Not just a figment of Next Generation writers' imagination, apparently!) TomRaftery: @dhowell Tachions!
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:36 PM

(Best response award winner!!!) stresa: @dhowell The Millenium Falcon made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs....she can make 0.5 past lightspeed.
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:34 PM

redragon: @dhowell black hole
Thu, Jul 3, 2008 1:30 PM

I also gave ChaCha a bite at these questions via its mobile service (text any question to 242242 and get an answer back in minutes). Its/their (ChaCha is human-powered) answers are here (electrons = mass = no light speed) and here (perhaps gravity). Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...