Moving a Long Pole Instantly?
Most recent answer: 02/23/2015
Q:
If I had a one million kilometre long pole, and I move it sideways or lengthways (assuming I had the strength to move it), would both ends of the pole move instantaneously?
- Jess (age 14)
Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Jess (age 14)
Sydney, NSW, Australia
A:
No. There's a delay of at least the time it takes for light or other massless particles to travel the distance from your hands to the ends of the pole.
See these old answers for more discussion:
Mike W.
(published on 02/23/2015)