The Universe has a speed limit defined by the speed of light in a vacuum, which is 299,792,458 m/s. Massive particles cannot reach this speed, while massless particles always travel at it. The interplay between space and time dictates that as an object's speed through space increases, its speed through time decreases. Observations reveal that while the Universe is 13.8 billion years old, some galaxies appear to be 34 billion light-years away, illustrating the complexities of cosmic expansion without violating the laws of relativity. Understanding these principles clarifies misconceptions about speed and distance in the Universe.
Nothing can exceed the ultimate speed limit set by the laws of physics, known as the speed of light in a vacuum, or 299,792,458 m/s.
Massive particles can never reach the speed of light; they can only approach it, while massless particles must always move at that one speed.
The faster an object moves through space, the slower it moves through time, forming the fundamental principle of relativistically-invariant physical theories.
Despite the Universe being 13.8 billion years old, distant galaxies can appear 34 billion light-years away, demonstrating that the expanding Universe adheres to the speed of light ceiling.
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