Question

The speed of light is a limiting velocity, unattainable by a material body.

(a) True

(b) False

The question was posed to me in class test.

My question comes from Mass Variation with Velocity in portion Ultrasonics & Relativity of Engineering Physics I

Answer 1

Correct option is (a) True

Easiest explanation: The velocity of light is the limiting velocity. From the expression, m = \(\frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}\), as the velocity of the object approaches the speed of light, it’s relativistic mass approaches infinity. Thus, the speed of light is unattainable by a material body. Only those with zero rest mass, i.e., photons, can attain the speed of light.