If the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, why would you gain infinite mass by reaching this speed ?

Question

According to einsteins theory, we should gain more mass the faster we travel, so in addition, how much more would we weigh, travelling at say, 30 miles a second ?

Someone posted saying your mass would decrease, and would become infinitely small as you approached the speed of light - this is incorrect, there is a flaw in your equations. As you approach the speed of light, it takes more energy to continue, therefore more mass, because energy and mass are the same (relatively speaking !) I just cant get my head round this limitation, because the laws of physics said around 200 years ago, that you couldnt travel faster than around 20 miles an hour or your head would pop or something, then they said that the sound barrier couldnt be broken. I think the thing with einstein was he was mad. And people dont truly understand what he was on about, so just go along with it to look clever. Seriously, what are the limitations imposed on a body approaching the speed of light ? we only have a theory, and it hasnt been tested, so how do we know ? the change in mass only happens as we approach maybe 98% the speed of light, so how do we prove it ? Theory doesnt.

cheers jared, thats what i was looking for. I didnt know about the lorenz factor.
Its still only theory, because its impossible to try out in reality, so how can we substantiate these equations ?

So the answer to *long* distance travel doesnt lie with speeds, it would have to lie with string theory, and warping of space and time ? Maybe Gene Roddenberry knew more than he let on :-)

So if you imagine yourself as a photon, travelling from the sun, if time didnt exist at the speed of light, would the photon arrive on earth immediately, or would it just be immeasureable relatively ? It seems the more questions you ask on this subject, the more it doesnt seem to make sense. To the lesser educated on this matter, its seems like its all made up ! It seems daft that speeds should stop increasing after a given point. I wont be able to sleep tonight now !

Further to that, does each photon from the sun have infinite mass ? because they travel at the speed of light. And if it does, why dont they crush us when they hit us ?

Well, that last post confused me even more than the question itself !
Thanks for all your comments, I finally found the answer last night in my dreams. But I cant tell you all, because it was forbidden !!

Answer 1

Simple!
Because matter = a super-concentrate of energy, and energy = matter, diluted. As we accelerate an object to within 95% of the S.O.L., rather than all the accellerative force increasing the speed of the object, we see some degree of the energy that would be accellerating the object become mass! This is one thing when we are larking around with tiny sub-atomic particles, which spontaneously swell, just at the limits of detection, as a quanta of energy becomes an infinitesimally small fragment of an atomic fragment, but imagine a human or a ship increasing in mass! And as we continue ever higher, 97, 98% we have to use ever more force to get a diminishing increase in the speed of the object, whilst its' mass increases, consuming ever more of the energy we are now fire-hosing at it. All very weird, very unfamiliar to us, as we thankfully live in a Newtonian-law frame of reference, even when we drive really fast, fly on a jet, or plot the next Space Shuttle mission, we never get near these wierd relativistic effects.
Why? The Great Maker set the rules. Ask HIM when you meet HIM. He doesn't want us going over C. He must have his reasons.

Answer 2

First of all, the Lorentz factor is not just theoretical. It has actually been measured in the lab. In particular, the effect of mass increase has a lot of bearing on how particle accelerators are constructed. Remember that we now get protons to within .00001% of the speed of light. This produces an increase of mass of a factor of 2000! This also implies a slowing of time of the same factor. This has been seen in times for particle decays. The equations of special relativity have been demonstrated for speeds up to this level.

Next, light has no rest mass. All of its energy is from momentum, E=pc, not E=mc^2. The full equation is actually E^2=m^2 c^4 +p^2 c^2. Light has m=0.

Answer 3

The mass increases by a factor called the Lorentz factor, which is:

1/(sqrt[1-(v^2/c^2)])

Your speed of 30 miles/sec may seem fast, but if you plug it into the equation you'll see that the factor is very, very close to 1. So even at this speed there is hardly any noticeable change in mass.

Now, if you go half the speed of light (93000 miles/sec), you'll end up with a factor of about 1.15.

So, at that speed, an object with a rest mass of 100lbs, will be 115lbs.

At .95c (95% speed of light), the same object will be about 320lbs.

As you get closer to c, the factor goes to infinity (try using v=c).

PS -- E = mc^2 is NOT the correct equation for determining the change in mass. You must use the Lorentz factor.

Answer 4

Einstein's theory concerning mass contains a fraction, ot which the denominator goes to zero at the speed of light. As you get closer and closer to that speed, the mass gets larger and larger, making it progressivey more difficult to go faster. Useful example: the Stanfor Linear Accelerator. Start an electron at the west end, and it is up to 90% of the speed of light in the first few feet. But the fields continue to kick it in the butt for another two miles. It doesn't go very much faster, but its mass increases to 40,000 times what it was when it started.

Answer 5

Artificial objects that require propulsion and are unnaturally able to excellerate are not a natural phenomenon. We don't know what mass of fuel is needed for this axcelleration to light speed or what would really happen because every object in nature that has an extreme amount of force applied to it is destroyed (there are no naturally light speed objects other than energy particles). The object has a mass and the fuel needed to propel it has a mass. For every increase in velocity there is a corresponding increase in need for fuel. For every increase in fuel there is an increase in fuel mass.

'Infinite' as I understand the word means that a measure for something is unfinishable or unfinished for a reason other than magnitude. There is no more knowledge for it than that.

Answer 6

If E = mc*2,
then E/m = c*2
and sq rt(E/m) = c.
Solving for c, mass becomes the denominator and as c increases, m must decrease. Therefore, as a body approaches the speed of light, the mass approaches zero. You would not gain infinite mass -- mass would become infinitely small.

Answer 7

I am going to give you the most correct but also least usefull answer.
Answer: Because you do.
The question you asked is similar to asking why pushing a heavy object results in less motion than pushing a light one. Nobody asks that question because we are all so familiar with the physics of inerta that nobody questions it. The 'strange' effects of approaching lightspeed are just as fundamental but as we don't experience these effects in day to day life they seem strange to us.
I should also point out that you cannot reach this speed but effective mass does tend to infinity as speed tends to lightspeed. A more interesting feature of moving at lightspeed is that time does not exist but don't even try and visualise that - you are doomed to failure!

Answer 8

How do extraterrestrial beings go back and forth... first and optimal, this can be 100% hypothesis, it is relaxing. :) properly they could wish some type of deliver. enable's assume that they have got a deliver it is able to vacationing on the fringe of the speed of light, for arguments sake. They then ought to both choose a way of a deep freeze hybernation and one heck of an automobile pilot, or possibly they could open some type of bubble/field purely in the front of the deliver because it is vacationing that ought to enable for bending the guidelines of phisics purely sufficient to create a sturdy approach for lengthy distance go back and forth in a short era of time. Or if we are less than the pretence that breaking/bending the guidelines of phisics isn't conceivable less than any condition, i ought to imaging that the idea of the wormhole, or vacationing by a rip or tear in area/time is also a conceivable answer. a third theory is that there is not any favor to go back and forth swifter than mild--per chance this deliver is their abode. Like if the "extraterrestrial beings" lived in Maine and offered a motorhome and purely cruised round u . s .. Now imagine that you lived in California and a motorhome handed by and also you puzzled how briskly it had to pass to get there. Does it remember how briskly? ultimately, it may make certain to stop by for a visit. I easily have little doubt that for a way massive in length the universe is that an alien species or 2 is absolute to exist. If their technologies helps them to make a deliver to go back and forth by area at large distances, they're sure to were confronted with technilogical annoying circumstances to conquer. Now no matter if those annoying circumstances comprise brending/breaking/or dishonest the guidelines of phisics will reamin a secret till they drop by of their motorhome or till we are technically stepped ahead sufficient to drop in on them. staggering question! ~Ant

Answer 9

Its a good question but its all basted on theory and i think it would be imposable to ever find out! it also has something to do with time not being constant in relation to that type of speed! it all twists my head though!

Answer 10

God, scientists and a quantum of light.
===============================
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the
light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
* * *
Why the quantum of light has such magic,
constant speed of motion с = 1 ?
* * *
On the planet of Earth there is the law - that every newborn cries,
and each nestling in order to be born must break the shell of the egg.
His new life starts with this moment.
In Kingdom of eternal cold / Vacuum / there is its law :
each quantum of light for its birth should make internal impulse h = 1
and then it gains constant speed of motion с = 1.
His new life starts with this moment.
===================================
Why the quantum of light has not such “magic “
constant : mass of rest equal to zero m = 0 ?
* * *
According to quantum theory, the particle's mass increases at approaching
to the speed of light quantum.
And at achievement of this speed, the particle's mass becomes infinite.
But the quantum of light is real particle and its mass is particular and not infinite.
How to leave this contradiction?
And the scientists invented an artful way: the quantum
does not possess the mass of rest and it is always in motion.
All other material particles have the mass of rest and
only quantum of light has a privileged position.
Why?
May be it so differs from material particles, that it is not material, is it?
And if it is not material, what is it?
It is written in the Bible:
«And God said: let there be light, and there was light.
And God saw the light and that it was good».
However, the Scientist interfered with the God's business and added:
« But let the quantum of light not possess the mass of rest and let it move eternally.
And who will doubt, let him be betrayed to anathema and fire! ».
Yes! It is difficult to be quantum of light.
All particles have mass of rest, and it does not.
All particles can have a rest, lie down, have a sleep.
And it, poor, does not have a second of rest, all the time in motion.
For what sins, I ask.
And as though God is pleased with it and praises it.
Only evidently, the quantum of light did not please the Scientist
with something, and he is angry about it and without pity runs it in the world.
God, save and protect me from such mentality.
=======================
Quantum of light is a privileged particle.
Only the speed of a light quantum in Vacuum has
a maximal, constant, absolute quantity of c=1.
No other particle can travel with the speed c = 1.
If quantum of light flies always rectilinearly c=1, it is a mad one.
Is he really mad?
No.
In Vacuum, in a condition of rest its internal impulse is equal to zero h=0.
But Quantum of Light has two kinds of internal impulse.
1)Under one internal impulse (Planck,s spin h =1)
a quantum of light flies rectilinearly with speed (c = 1).
A quantum of light behaves as a particle.
2) Under other internal impulse (Goudsmit-Uhlenbeck's spin ħ = h / 2)
a quantum of light rotates around of his diameter and is known as electron.
A quantum of light behaves as a wave.
Very strange particle is quantum of light.
Quantum of light stays in Vacuum and on it nobody and nothing renders influence.
It is independent and makes a decision in which of three conditions it occurs.
1. In a condition of rest its internal impulse is equal to zero h=0.
2 .In a condition of uniform rectilinear movement its impulse h=1.
3. In a condition of rotation around of his diameter its impulse ћ =h/2π.
So it can work only with particle that has his own consciousness.
They are alive, spiritual particles.
His own consciousness is not static but can develop.
The development of conscious scale goes " from vague wishes up to a clear thought ".
This evolution proceeds during hundred millions (billion) years.
Socratus.