2006-10-17 04:39:16 · 10 answers · asked by george_cool_me 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The mass increases accordng to the Einsteins formula:
m = m0/sqrt(1 -v^2/c^2)
Where m is he moving mass and m0 is the rest mass
v = the velocity of the object
c is the speed of light
Ex: Lets say an object having rest mass 10kg is travelling at 0.5c. What is its moving mass. lets calculate;
m = m0 /sqrt(1 -v^2/c^2)
m = m0/sqrt(1 - 0.5c^2/c^2)
m = 13.3 kg
But observe what happens at say v = c
m = m0/sqrt(1 - c^2/c^2)
m = m0/ (1 - 1) = m0/0 = infinity!
The moving mass would become infinite which is clearly impossible situation . Hence no particle having mass can ever travel at the speed of light. Photons are massless and travel always at the speed of light.
2006-10-17 05:38:03 · answer #1 · answered by quark_sa 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If "we" travel close to the speed of light, we'd have no idea we're traveling so fast. In fact, the very statement only has meaning relative to some reference point, say the Planet Earth. However, even in this case, traveling .9c with respect to the Earth, everything seems perfectly normal inside our spacecraft.
If we're "observing" an object moving close to the speed of light, its mass will appear to be greater than when it's at rest relative to us.
This effect is most notable in particle accelerators which have to compensate for the increasing mass as the particles are accelerated. Look into Cyclotron vs. Synchrotron.
2006-10-17 05:52:52 · answer #2 · answered by entropy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rest mass (M0) is the ordinary mass you and I are familiar with. Relativisitc mass (M) is the rest mass as it speeds up (v) to near the speed of light (c). The equation is:
M = M0/sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2); where the denominator is called the Lorentz transformation. [See source.]
As you can see, if v = c, meaning the mass M0 is traveling the speed of light, M --> infinity because any number divided by zero approaches infinity.
Some will say it "equals" infinity, but if that were true, what is it when I add 1 to infinity, as in M + 1 = infinity + 1, but infinity + 1 = Infinity (a larger infinity), which makes no sense because one infinity cannot be larger than another infinity. Thus, I prefer to say approaches infinity rather than equals it.
By the way, the Lorentz transformation also applies to rest time T0 and relativistic time T. That is, as v --> c, T0 --> T --> infinity So as a mass approaches infinity so, too, does the passage of time on that mass as observed from outside that mass.
One last point, both M and T are as observed from outside the moving rest mass...that is, as seen by an outside observer. Inside the mass, as in a space ship, the inhabitants will not see M and T, they will see only rest mass and time. Why? Because mass is at rest inside the spaceship (e.g., Captain Kirk's chair is not moving with respect to the rest of the Enterprise).
2006-10-17 06:34:03 · answer #3 · answered by oldprof 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Speed has a "weight". If you push something to make it move you increase its energy but energy and mass are the same thing. Try pushing a car and see how tired you get !.
The weight of the speed gets added to the weight of the object. Now imagine trying to make the object go faster still. Not only do you have to push the weight of the object you also have to push the weight of the speed its already travelling at.
Speed doesn't weigh very much so at low speeds you don't notice it, but at very high speed (close to light speed) it becomes very significant.
2006-10-17 06:58:12 · answer #4 · answered by black sheep 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you were to travel at the speed of light, your mass would be infinitely large. At rest you have a mass. As you speed up, your mass increases in a non linear fashion, so that at half the speed of light your mass is still not much different than at rest, but at speeds very near the speed of light your mass is much greater, until , in theory, at the speed of light your mass is infinite.
2006-10-17 04:49:00 · answer #5 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We can't travel at the speed of light. As you accelerate to a speed near the speed of light, mass increases (which makes it harder to accelerate more)
2006-10-17 04:48:59 · answer #6 · answered by DanE 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As you aproach the speed of light your mass would increase and time would slow down.
2006-10-17 05:41:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It increases as you approach c. No finite mass can ever reach c as far as anyone knows, because it will require an infinite amount of energy to get there. Check out the link.
2006-10-17 04:51:59 · answer #8 · answered by justaguy 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Increase.
2006-10-17 04:51:43 · answer #9 · answered by rvrusse 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
if E=mc^2
then
m=E/c^2
Oops, I,m not sure anymore either...
I like you tough, you are smart and funny!
Good luck Billy J
2006-10-17 07:52:31 · answer #10 · answered by Yahoo! 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋