The Ultimate Speed Limit

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
What is the maximum speed of any object? I was informed that there is a maximum speed that no object can exceed.
- Carol Johnson (age 36)
Des Moines, Ia
A:
Carol -

The maximum speed for any object is just slightly less than the speed of light. It is not possible for anything with mass to travel at (or faster than) the speed of light. This is because the amount of energy required to move something at the speed of light is infinite, and it’s just not possible to get an infinite amount of energy. The exact reasons for this have to do with something called ’special relativity,’ but you can get a general idea by reading the answer to the question .

-Tamara

(published on 10/22/2007)