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People underestimate just how fast the speed of light truly is.
The speed of light, known by many as the thing that nothing in the universe can outpace, is often used to help explain several phenomena in physics.
However, when used in theoretical situations and computer simulations, the power of an object moving at the speed of light can be seen like never before.
The best example of this comes from the YouTube channel Ridddle, which uploaded a video that simulated what would happen if a small sewing needle hit the Earth from outer space at the speed of light, with the results shocking many viewers.
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Now, for full disclosure, because this is merely a simulation of something that could not possibly occur, there is no one sure thing that will happen in the event that a needle traveling at the speed of light hits the Earth. Instead, there are a few possibilities of what would happen with vastly different consequences.
The more likely option is a devastating one, as even a 35mm sewing needle moving at such an absurdly high speed would have a similar effect to that of an atomic bomb, doubling the power of the “Fat Man” bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945.
This would undoubtedly cause total and utter destruction to wherever it lands and the surrounding area. However, that isn’t even the most disastrous possibility.
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An alternate possibility would see the needle not explode on impact, instead seeping into the Earth’s crust, creating a hole that allows plasma to Engulf the Earth in insurmountable heat, killing every living in the process before the Earth, as a whole, gets torn apart and eviscerated.
Needless to say, those first two would not be very good for us whatsoever.
Luckily, the third theoretical possibility would end in far less hardship for the human race.
The third and final potential outcome of a needle hitting the Earth at the speed of light is that, due to its shape and speed, the needle could theoretically fly straight through one side of the Earth and out the other with minimal effects on the world at large.
Much better, right?
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Interestingly enough, the first and last potential outcomes are similar to what would happen in the event that the needle hit a human instead of the ground.
While it’s possible that the needle would completely eviscerate the human body, there’s also a chance that it simply pierces a small hole through said body, one that could be treated far easier than one would expect.
Ultimately, while some of these possibilities are better than others, let’s just say we’re lucky to live in a universe where needles can’t move at the speed of light.
Topics: Space, Science, Technology
Dylan Murray