All mysteries
Mystery #4Tier 3the speed of light

Why does light rush past you at the same speed whether you chase it or flee from it?

Sprint toward a friend rolling a ball to you and it reaches you sooner. Walk away and it takes longer. Speeds add up and subtract, just as common sense says they should. So why does a beam of light always pass you at exactly the same speed, whether you race toward it or flee from it as fast as you can?

Sunbeams breaking through a gap in heavy cloud and fanning down over hills and water, light arriving at the same speed for everyone who looks
Photo: JustinH · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Your guess

Why do you think light won't go faster when you chase it, or slower when you run away?

There's no single magic word to type, have a go in your own words, then reveal the answer to see how close you got.

Make a guess to unlock the hints and the answer.