If CERN's claim is true, how would SR and GR change?

In summary, the conversation is discussing the implications of the possibility of neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. This would require a redefinition of the event horizon of a black hole and the abandonment of Lorentz transformations in special relativity. It also brings into question the validity of equations for adding and subtracting relativistic speeds and the potential to violate causality.
  • #1
zeromodz
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Neutrinos are thought to be particles with mass. So they aren't even supposed to be traveling at the speed of light to begin with, let alone travel faster. They would have to have some type of imaginary mass in order to do so. So what do you guys think will have to be modified in SR and GR if this discovery is confirmed. This is what I came up with already.

1) We have to redefine the even horizon of a black hole to be a point of which the speed of light cannot escape, instead of a point of no return for anything.

2) Wouldn't we have to through out Lorentz transformations? in SR because they tell us that it takes an infinite amount of energy for any particle with mass to travel at light speed, and imaginary mass to travel faster.

E = MC^2 / (√1 - V^2/C^2)

If V equal to, or larger than c. Things don't really work out and this equation breaks down.

3) We can now violate causality.

4) What about the equations for adding and subtracting relativistic speeds? Since things can now travel faster than c, would those still be valid because they were created theoretically?

Feel free to add whatever
 
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  • #2
We should not start a bunch of new posts on a topic that is already being discussed, and we should certainly not pile speculation on top of speculation.
 

Related to If CERN's claim is true, how would SR and GR change?

1. How would CERN's claim affect our understanding of space and time?

If CERN's claim is true, it would challenge our current understanding of space and time as described by Einstein's theories of relativity. This is because it would mean that the speed of light is not a fundamental constant and could possibly be exceeded, which goes against the principles of special relativity.

2. What implications would this have on our understanding of the universe?

If CERN's claim is confirmed, it could potentially lead to a paradigm shift in our understanding of the universe. It could mean that our current models of the universe may need to be revised or even completely replaced. This could also open up new avenues for exploration and understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe.

3. Would this change the way we use and apply Einstein's theories of relativity in practical applications?

If CERN's claim is true, it would not necessarily invalidate Einstein's theories of relativity, but it would require modifications and adjustments to account for the possibility of faster-than-light travel. This could have significant impacts on technologies that rely on these theories, such as GPS systems and particle accelerators.

4. How would this discovery impact the field of physics?

The confirmation of CERN's claim would have a profound impact on the field of physics. It would challenge long-held beliefs and theories, and could potentially lead to new breakthroughs and advancements in our understanding of the universe. It could also spark further research and experiments to better understand the implications of faster-than-light travel.

5. What are the potential limitations and challenges of this discovery?

If CERN's claim is true, there could be significant challenges and limitations in terms of practical applications and testing. It may also require significant updates and modifications to existing theories and models, which could take time and resources to fully understand. Additionally, there could be ethical considerations surrounding the use of faster-than-light travel and its potential consequences.

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