why when two particles approaching each other with c their relative velocity with respect to one another is c not 2c ?
Sujal AwasthiBegginer
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When two particles approach each other, both moving at speeds close to the speed of light (c), their combined approach speed isn’t 2c because of the way speeds add in Einstein’s theory of relativity.In everyday life, if two cars each move at 50 km/h toward each other, their combined approach speed is 100 km/h. This is simple addition. But near the speed of light, this doesn’t work the same way due to the effects of special relativity.
Einstein’s theory shows that as an object moves faster, time for it slows down and lengths contract from the perspective of a stationary observer. This means velocities add differently. The relativistic velocity addition formula is used:
Vcombined = v1 + v2/1+v1v2/c²
If each particle moves at c, their combined speed is:
Vcombined = c + c/1 + c*c/c² = 2c/1+1 = 2c/2 = 2
Thus, even though they seem to approach each other at 2c, the formula shows they still do not exceed the speed of light, c. This protects the universal speed limit set by relativity.
When two particles approach each other, both moving at speeds close to the speed of light (c), their combined approach speed isn’t 2c because of the way speeds add in Einstein’s theory of relativity.
In everyday life, if two cars each move at 50 km/h toward each other, their combined approach speed is 100 km/h. This is simple addition. But near the speed of light, this doesn’t work the same way due to the effects of special relativity.
Einstein’s theory shows that as an object moves faster, time for it slows down and lengths contract from the perspective of a stationary observer. This means velocities add differently. The relativistic velocity addition formula is used:
Vcombined = v1 + v2/1+v1v2/c²
If each particle moves at c, their combined speed is:
Vcombined = c + c/1 + c*c/c² = 2c/1+1 = 2c/2 = 2
Thus, even though they seem to approach each other at 2c, the formula shows they still do not exceed the speed of light, c. This protects the universal speed limit set by relativity.
When two particles approach each other, both moving at speeds close to the speed of light (c), their combined approach speed isn’t 2c because of the way speeds add in Einstein’s theory of relativity.
In everyday life, if two cars each move at 50 km/h toward each other, their combined approach speed is 100 km/h. This is simple addition. But near the speed of light, this doesn’t work the same way due to the effects of special relativity.
Einstein’s theory shows that as an object moves faster, time for it slows down and lengths contract from the perspective of a stationary observer. This means velocities add differently. The relativistic velocity addition formula is used:
Vcombined = v1 + v2/1+v1v2/c²
If each particle moves at c, their combined speed is:
Vcombined = c + c/1 + c*c/c² = 2c/1+1 = 2c/2 = 2
Thus, even though they seem to approach each other at 2c, the formula shows they still do not exceed the speed of light, c. This protects the universal speed limit set by relativity.
of light (c), their combined approach speed isn’t 2c because of the way speeds add in Einstein’s theory of relativity.In everyday life, if two cars each move at 50 km/h toward each other, their combined approach speed is 100 km/h. This is simple addition. But near the speed of light, this doesn’t work the same way due to the effects of special relativity.
Einstein’s theory shows that as an object moves faster, time for it slows down and lengths contract from the perspective of a stationary observer. This means velocities add differently. The relativistic velocity addition formula is used:
Vcombined = v1 + v2/ 1+v1v2/c2
If each particle moves at c, their combined speed is:
Vcombined = c+c/1+c•c/c² = 2c/1+1 = 2c/2 = c
Thus, even though they seem to approach each other at 2c, the formula shows they still do not exceed the speed of light, c. This protects the universal speed limit set by relativity.