this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2025
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It can look dumb, but I always had this question as a kid, what physical principles would prevent this?

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[โ€“] tkk13909@sopuli.xyz 249 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (26 children)

The problem is that when you push an object, the push happens at the speed of sound in that object. It's very fast but not anywhere near the speed of light. If you tapped one end of the stick, you would hear it on the moon after the wave had traveled the distance.

For example, the speed of sound in wood is around 3,300 m/s so 384,400/3,300 ~= 32.36 hours to see the pole move on the moon after you tap it on earth.

[โ€“] TheGuyTM3@lemmy.ml 37 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Damn, so that means no FTL communication for now... ๐Ÿ˜…

[โ€“] sbv@sh.itjust.works 30 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Hear me out... What about a metal stick?

[โ€“] DemBoSain@midwest.social 22 points 3 months ago (4 children)

Metal is a lot heavier than wood. You'd never be able to lift it to the moon.

[โ€“] ChanchoManco@lemm.ee 17 points 3 months ago (1 children)

But can you lift it from the moon? Gravity is a lot lower there.

Large if factual

[โ€“] FooBarrington@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

You should make it out of feathers. Steel is heavier than feathers.

[โ€“] sbv@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[โ€“] ech@lemm.ee 7 points 3 months ago

NASA: "Hold my beaker."

[โ€“] Klear@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago
[โ€“] tkk13909@sopuli.xyz 14 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[โ€“] racketlauncher831@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[โ€“] tkk13909@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 months ago

Hold on, let me check. I don't think so

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