Why A Shadow Can Move Faster-than-light During Sunrise but Not Sunset
Abstract
The speed of the extension or contraction of a person's shadow at sunrise and sunset is investigated. It is found that even though the Sun's light always moves at speed c, the speed of a person's shadow is not only unexpectedly complex, but can be faster than c without violating Einstein's Special Relativity. Specifically, during sunset, the shadow's speed approaches the speed of light but never exceeds it. During sunrise, however, the shadow's speed can exceed that of light. Surprisingly, a person's shadow even bifurcates at sunrise, with one part moving away, while another part approaches. The case for a person standing on a flat plane is first analyzed, but discussion is given about how shadows would change on a uniform sphere.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- June 2024
- Bibcode:
- 2024AAS...24413002S