This article outlines a speculative theory. It is not meant to be technical, and hopefully it can be further developed. The Velocity Theory states that velocity, also acceleration, motion and momentum, are not merely properties of matter, energy and space-time; rather combined (calling them all velocity) they are one of the fundamental forces of nature. This paper will explore phenomena in the quantum world, the quantum vacuum energy as it relates to velocity, and the reasoning behind the theory that velocity was the fifth fundamental force in the moments prior to the Big Bang. The vacuum energy will be used heavily here, as I propose it is the equivalent of velocity being present everywhere in the universe.

The quantum world is a fascinating and perplexing mix of curious behavior. Matter congeals in near-absolute temperature to become what is known as a Bose-Einstein condensate, liquids display super-viscosity, spilling over their containers, seemingly oblivious to gravity, and superconductivity gives electrons a path through a superconductor that offers zero resistance. Electrons can exist in a state of superposition; there and not there at the same time and matter is a dual wave-particle. But perhaps the greatest quantum-scale trick is what’s called vacuum quantum energy, or “zero-point” energy. This is a sea of energy that permeates the vacuum of space. One scientist claimed that, in a single cubic centimeter of “empty” space, there is enough energy that, if it were converted to mass via Einstein’s theory E = MC2, it would have more mass than everything we can see in the universe. Its existence has been required for quantum equations to work, and its effect has been measured as pressure placed on two thinly-separated plates in a vacuum, known as the Casimir Effect. But what does it mean?

The quantum vacuum energy could offer us a clue into the interaction between matter and the quantum scale, the nature of velocity and its importance to bridging the gap between the quantum, Newtonian (or classical) physics and Relativity Theory. The “quantum foam” as it is sometimes called, is an abundant sea of what are known as “virtual particles” – They explode into being, exist and are in motion for a brief period, and annihilate each other. Anti-matter (matter particles with opposite charges) makes up a large portion of this foam, and the energy of annihilation, some have claimed, actually travels backwards in time to supply the energy for the virtual particle pair’s creation. In any case, the emptiness of space is alive with energy, and motion is ever-present.

Let’s look at what quantum physicists currently use to detect sub-atomic particles: supercolliders. In these devices, circular in shape, protons are charged up to speeds approaching the speed of light, and collide with each other at some point in the circle, exploding where sensors can pick up the traces of elementary particles. Speed, or velocity, plays a crucial role here. Note that the protons are charged tonear the speed of light, not to the speed of light, because it is the accepted standard of science that a massive (having mass) object can never travel at the speed of light. This is because the faster that object goes, the more mass it picks up, and the more energy would be required to push it faster, in fact, an infinite amount of energy. So it’s impossible.

But let’s pretend it was possible. In the vacuum of space, an object the size of a bullet was being sent on via a propulsion system that could get it up to the speed of light. What would happen? And more importantly, what would happen before that point?

When a jet approaches the sound barrier, that’s just what it is; a barrier. Immense pressure is placed on the nose of the jet, with waves radiating off the side. This is air pressure. If the jet’s propulsion system stopped, that barrier would push the jet to slow down. It takes more energy to push the jet to break the barrier, because the barrier’s pressure acts as a form of additional drag, or mass. According to the jet’s engines, it has more mass at this point. But the energy needed to break the sound barrier is equivalent to the energy needed to pierce a barrier of air pressure; certainly doable, as we all know. But why then, would ourbullet in space have a “light-barrier”?

The principle of the sound barrier would provide a useful analogy, except that, in space, there is no air, and thus no air pressure. But there is a form of pressure that could form a barrier, and it is far more massive, per unit area, than air. Earlier was mentioned the Casimir Effect, where two closely placed plates, uncharged, found a pressure pushing against them in a vacuum environment. The hypothesis here is that the more closely a mass-bearing object comes to the speed of light, the more it interacts with the vacuum quantum energy. This energy would pose a formidable barrier at near-light speeds and, since Einstein’s equation shows that mass is energy and energy is mass, this barrier would add incredible mass to the object, a near-infinite amount, due to the density and pervasiveness of the energy.

If we could elevate that bullet to the speed of light, it has been speculated that the bullet would travel back in time. More likely, the bullet’s mass would be completely converted to energy, or generate a small black-hole.

Another hypothesis about vacuum energy concerns light itself. It seems inconceivable that a photon can travel for billions of years without dissipating. The laws of thermodynamics state that heat transfers to cold and organized states break down to disorganized states. But light doesn’t do this. There may be an explanation in the quantum vacuum energy flux. Being that photons travel at the speed of light, they would interact with the quantum vacuum energy. However, being massless, they would not be under a barrier of any sort. Since the vacuum’s energy is so vast, and the photon’s is finite, transference of energy must occur, perhaps similar to “repeaters” that amplify a signal on earth to enable it to cover longer distances. With this assumption, a photon could travel forever without dissipating. Not enough is known about quantum vacuum energy to know why it wouldn’t alter the photon, or send it off course; perhaps the transference comes from field activity, and not collision activity.

The near-absolute-zero phenomena witnessed in laboratories may be explained in terms of velocity, just as velocity causes matter to interact with the quantum world in the previous example. In this case the velocity would be deceleration. For a mass-bearing particle to reach absolute zero (-273.15 degrees Celsius) is, according to science, impossible. So it seems there are two barriers to velocity: the speed of light in a vacuum, and zero, which would occur in an absolute zero environment. Temperature, after all, is a measure of a system’s “energy-in-motion”, or kinetic energy. Absolute zero means no kinetic energy, no motion, as in no velocity, internal or otherwise.

In conclusion, the breakdown between quantum mechanics, classical physics and relativity theory may be bridged by a deeper exploration of something we often take for granted: motion and velocity. More research needs to be performed on the quantum vacuum energy, but science has let go of the concept of an “ether.” Einstein himself once said that if empty space did not have any qualities, relativity theory wouldn’t make sense. It’s time we started listening to him.

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