[sci.philosophy.tech] A simple question

emarsh@hernes-sun.Eng.Sun.COM (Eric Marsh) (01/04/91)

I have been reading a book on quantem reality over the Yule holiday, and
came up with a simple question that I'm sure someone here can answer.

My question is this:

If an object is approaching me from one direction at .9c, and another
object is approaching me from the opposite direction at .9c, it would
seem to me that relative to the first object, the second object would
be moving at 1.8c. Since nothing can move faster than c, this is thus
impossible, yes? But if that is the case, then it would follow that from
my initial position neither of those two objects could be approaching
me at a greater combined speed than c. This does not appear to work.
What gives?

Thanks,
   Eric