Q:

Here's a way to transmit data faster than the speed of light

Possible Duplicate:
Is it possible for information to be transmitted faster than light by using a rigid pole? 

Assume there is a long rod or a string connecting two points separated by a distance of several light years. It will take light several years to travel, but by a simple pull or push of the string or rod we can transmit date in binary format, what do you think?

A:

No, that's not true. The time it takes for the rod to move will be much slower than if you send a light pulse from one end of the rod to the other. The rod moves because all its atoms move in a certain direction. The speed in which the atoms move and signal for the others to move is much slower than the speed of light. It is counter-intuitive because most rods we are dealing with are SHORT. 

