OBJECTS APPROACHING EACH OTHER
At the beginning of the animation, we see that the circle representing the Electromagnetic
Wave Packet is located between the observer and the Source. When the observer moves, the circle moves
towards the observer at the speed of c, while simultaneously being carried in the direction of motion by the
observer. Since the observer's speed is greater than c, the circle passes over the Source Object and moves
forward in the direction of motion. As a result, in this case, the circle has to perform its scanning function
from back to front, and the order in which the electromagnetic waves join the Electromagnetic Wave Packet changes.
When the circle's radius is large, electromagnetic waves emitted from points of the Source Object closer to the
observer are included in the packet; when the radius decreases, electromagnetic waves emitted from points of the
Source Object farther from the observer join the packet. This is why the Image Object forms in reverse.
In the Dimension Shift section, we observed that an increase in the observer's speed results in an increase in
the elongation of the Image Object. When two objects approach each other at the speed of c, the length of the
Image Object reaches its maximum value. If the observer starts moving towards the Source Object at a distance
of x with the speed of c, the length of the Image Object will equal the distance x. If acceleration continues
after exceeding the speed of light limit, the length of the Image Object will begin to return to normal. You can
observe this return to normal by running the animation at speeds of 1.6 c and 1.8 c. However, the Reverse Image
formation continues. At 2 c, the length of the Image Object becomes equal to the Source Object. If the speed
exceeds 2 c, the Image Object begins to shorten in the direction of motion, but the Reverse Image view persists.
Using the controls in the animation, you can observe the situations described above. I recommend using the
scrollbar to increase the distance between the Observer and the Source Object. In this case, the deformation
on the Y-axis for the Image Object will be negligible, and the changes on the X-axis will be more clearly visible.
OBJECTS MOVING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER
In faster-than-light motion, if two objects are moving away from each other, no Reverse Image is formed. The
Image Object appears more compressed in the direction of motion.
I want to clarify something here. There is a notion that if an object moves faster than the speed of light, the
light coming from behind cannot catch up to it. This is incorrect because an electromagnetic wave coming towards
an object travels within the object's domain. Since the object's domain is carried in the direction of motion by
the object, an electromagnetic wave moving at the speed of c within that domain will still reach the object,
even if it comes from behind. Let me make an analogy. Imagine an ant walking on a piece of paper. When we move
the paper with our finger, the ant continues to walk. Whether we move the paper quickly or slowly does not change
anything. If the ant's destination is our finger, it will reach our finger. In this example, let us replace the
finger with the object, the paper with the object's domain, and the ant with the electromagnetic wave. The course
of the event will be exactly like in the example of the ant. No matter how fast the object moves, even if it moves
faster than the speed of light, an electromagnetic wave traveling within its domain will reach it.
REVERSE IMAGE FORMATION
Let us focus on the previous animation: the Observer can only see the Image Object, which has turned into a
Reverse Image, after passing the Source Object. Since the Observer moves faster than the speed of light, they
cannot see the Reverse Image earlier. After the Observer passes the Source Object, there is no longer a reason
for the Reverse Image to form. Therefore, the Reverse Image is a phenomenon that exists only for a temporary
period. The duration of this period depends on the distance between the two objects and the speed difference
between them. At the end of this period, the Reverse Image disappears.
This animation continuously displays the formation of the Reverse Image. The Observer's speed is 1.25 c.