Final answer:
Yes, it is possible for gamma (γ) to be smaller than unity in certain hypothetical scenarios.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, it is possible for γ (gamma) to be smaller than unity.
Gamma (γ) is the Lorentz factor, which is defined as the reciprocal of the square root of (1 - v^2/c^2), where v is the velocity of an object and c is the speed of light.
Gamma is always greater than or equal to 1. When an object is at rest, v is 0, and therefore gamma is 1. As the velocity of an object increases, gamma increases, approaching infinity as the object approaches the speed of light.
However, if the velocity of an object exceeds the speed of light, which is not possible according to the laws of physics, the denominator of the Lorentz factor becomes imaginary, and gamma becomes smaller than unity.