2006-08-17 13:14:57 · 33 answers · asked by Alex 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It requires infinite energy to accelerate to "c" because the objects mass increases as the velocity increases. It is an asymptotic function. The website below at LBL explains it well.
Aloha
2006-08-17 13:19:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
In all seriousness, as a body's velocity increases toward the speed of light, the mass of the body increases. This doesn't make much of a difference going at slow speeds, like an airplane or rocket. But if you are going, say, 5% or more of the speed of light, you would notice a difference.
As the velocity get closer to the speed of light, the mass increases more and more, "approaching infinity" as those of us math geeks would say.
But practically speaking, some of the strange answers here are true - the energy needed to accelatate also approaches infinity, and your body would stretch and tear apart long before you got close to the speed of light.
2006-08-17 13:37:33 · answer #2 · answered by Polymath 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No expert here but two thoughts. First resistance is still too great to achieve that kind of speed within any atmosphere and in space where wind or other significant resistance is far diminished if there at all I would guess the reason we can't reach the speed of sound is that if we did then the persons on board would be doomed and if it was unmanned then would we have a reliable ability to measure it or even control the craft?
2006-08-17 13:21:01 · answer #3 · answered by alagk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The basic reason is the speed of light is measured the same irrespective of the speed of the observer.
Assuming one can go with the speed of light, he has to measure the speed of light as one and the same when he moves toward a beam of light and also when he moves away from the speed of light.
This is possible only when the length of the measuring scale becomes zero and the time is not moving. But this is meaningless and hence one cannot move with the speed of light.
2006-08-17 16:07:12 · answer #4 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reaching the speed of light requires infinite amount of work for objects with mass
2006-08-17 14:51:52 · answer #5 · answered by Duke 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Light has a dual nature of both a particle and a wave. If particles (ie you) were to reach the speed of light, they would become light. So you wouldn't be able to slow back down to become you again.
2006-08-17 13:27:33 · answer #6 · answered by lizettadf 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The deep connection Einstein discovered between energy and mass is expressed in the equation E=mc² . Here E represents energy, m represents mass, and c² is a very large number, the square of the speed of light. Full confirmation was slow in coming. In Paris in 1933, Irène and Frédéric Joliot-Curie took a photograph showing the conversion of energy into mass. A quantum of light, invisible here, carries energy up from beneath. In the middle it changes into mass -- two freshly created particles which curve away from each other.
2006-08-17 13:22:15 · answer #7 · answered by Mr Answer 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the same reason that's been posted to this same question the last couple dozen times the question has been posted here.
The relativistic mass increases as 1/√(1-v²/c²) so that as v --> c mass becomes infinite. Since this would require infinite force to cause any acceleration, light becomes the limiting velocity.
Doug
2006-08-17 14:53:44 · answer #8 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, Einstein proved that it was impossible to /accelerate/ to the speed of light. Theoretically, you could travel at the speed of light if you could achieve that speed instantaneously...or if you always traveled at that speed, as light does. The various explanations given are correct in as far as saying your mass would become infinite as your speed approached that of light. But if you could just be at that speed, no worries. Of course, that's one hell of a catch.
2006-08-17 13:39:23 · answer #9 · answered by mathguy_99 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. Time slows down to a stop as you approach the speed of light (c). What's slower than a stop?
2. As you approach c, your mass increases indefinitely. So at c, your mass would be infinite.
See also:
2006-08-17 13:21:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
basicially as your velocity goes up your energy goes up in a non-linear fashion so to get to the speed of light requires infinate energy for anything that has mass.
The Equation is the energy Lorenz transformation:
E = E0 (1/SQRT(1 -V^^2 /C^^2))
2006-08-17 16:00:11 · answer #11 · answered by walter_b_marvin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋