...not a question with a definite answer per se, but more of an interesting point to debate!
Let's say I've got a solid, completely non elastic rod that stretches from here to the moon. Bob is on the moon and awaiting instructions, I'm at ground control telling him what to do. I communicate with him by moving the rod backwards and forwards using morse code. A forward shove is a dot, a backwards shove is a dash. (The method of communication doesn't really matter, it's more the fact this rod could be used for communication.)
So, I shove this rod back and forth a few times and Bob immediately gets the instructions at the other end, and starts walking around.
Sounds theoretically sound to me.
However (here's the big but) Bob received those signals instantaneously, as soon as I shoved it, the other end on the moon also moved.
Traditionally, using radio waves travelling at the speed of light, it'd take a couple of seconds for the instructions to reach the moon.
SO the big question - have I just communicated with Bob faster than the speed of light?
Let's say I've got a solid, completely non elastic rod that stretches from here to the moon. Bob is on the moon and awaiting instructions, I'm at ground control telling him what to do. I communicate with him by moving the rod backwards and forwards using morse code. A forward shove is a dot, a backwards shove is a dash. (The method of communication doesn't really matter, it's more the fact this rod could be used for communication.)
So, I shove this rod back and forth a few times and Bob immediately gets the instructions at the other end, and starts walking around.
Sounds theoretically sound to me.
However (here's the big but) Bob received those signals instantaneously, as soon as I shoved it, the other end on the moon also moved.
Traditionally, using radio waves travelling at the speed of light, it'd take a couple of seconds for the instructions to reach the moon.
SO the big question - have I just communicated with Bob faster than the speed of light?