Lowering the Speed of Light?

Question

If the speed of light in a vacuum was much lower than it really is (say 100km/h), what would be the consequence in everyday life?

***Use mass, length, and time equations to answer***

Answer 1

Let's start with the BIGGIE. If the speed of light were so low the universe would likely be a very dark and cold place. Recall E=MC^2. If C= 100 km/hr ~27.8 m/sec compared to 3*10^8 m/sec, the energy available from a given nuclear reaction would be reduced by a factor of ~1.1664*10^14. That would mean that even IF our sun could carry on fusion at the historical rate (which it could not with so little energy available to trigger fusions), it would not put out enough heat to melt Nitrogen on Earth. Even Mercury would remain cold. The only stars that might have a chance would be giants such as Rigel or Betelgeuse. Even then, they would probably put out much less light than our sun does. Chemical reactions would be affected similarly.

Answer 2

Your preconditions for the answer are physically nonsense.

The main effect would be that the electrostatic force would be orders of magnitude smaller. Hence there would be no atoms, molecules - indeed no matter as we understand it.

Nothing else much matters after this. Hypothesising on the basis that what I have just said is not the main effect is just arrogant tosh.

Answer 3

Well, light for one travels faster in a vacuum because it doesn't get refracted going through matter.  Watch your questions, however, if the speed of light was lower, mass would have less matter, length of things wouldn't necessarily change, except to make stuff it would take longer.  Finally, the Theory of Relativity would still apply as it does now.  The math just would be different.

Answer 4

Don't worry about it - there wouldn't be an 'everyday life'. Or any other kind of life..........