PH2010 Sophomore Seminar Fall Semester 2003

This presentation of faster then light travel will cover three different ways in which one could theoretically go faster that light. The concepts of relativity and negative energy will be introduced at the beginning because it is necessary to have a basic understanding of these concepts to understand some of the ways to go faster than light and some of the problems that would complicate that effort. The most important topics in relativity that will be covered is the concept that space and time for a fabric and that this space-time can be curved. Negative energy will be briefly explained in the introduction and will be further explained it the body of the presentation. The first possible method for going faster than light that will be covered is simply accelerating a ship up to the speed of light. The basic theory, possible ways to accomplish this method, and the benefits and problems associated with this method will be explored. Next, wormholes will be discussed as a possible way to travel faster than light. The basic theory behind this method will be demonstrated with an example. The possible ways of creating a wormhole and its advantages and disadvantages will be discussed. Finally, the method of warping space will be discussed along with its advantages and disadvantages over the previous to methods.

Bibliography:

Ford, Lawrence H. and Thomas A. Roman: Negative Energy, Wormholes, and Warp Drive, Scientific American, May 2003: 84-91.

Hawking, Stephen: A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes , New York: Bantam Books, 1988.

Krauss, Lawrence M.: The Physics of Star Trek , New York: HarperCollins, 1995.

Thorne, Kip S.: Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy , New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1994.

Weed, William Speed: Star Trek, Discover , Aug. 2003: 35-41.