mass traveling at speed of light has unlimited mass?

Question

I heard there is many different way to get very close to light speed, even though theoretically mass traveling at speed of light is impossible. For example using matter anti-matter engine and cause continuous explosions would eventually accelerate up to velocity that is just under light speed. Ok here is what I don't know about. In this science fiction I read. As velocity increse the mass will increase, so when it get to near light speed the mass will increase up to even mass of saturn and go on. In this sf novel that I read. Space military used matter anti matter engine equipped missil to enemy planet to make gaint hole on thier planet or make the missil go fast as possible and increase mass so that it will become blackhole near enemy. Is it true that as velocity increase mass increase?

Answer 1

yes

let:
Mo = resting mass
c = speed of light
v = current speed
sqrt = square root

Then M (moving mass) = Mo/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) = L*Mo

L is the Lorentz Factor = 1/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)

M, the moving mass is called the relativistic mass

Note the energy to move is E = L*Mo*c^2 so as v approaches c the Lorentz factor goes to infinity and so does E. Most people write E = Mc^2 but this M is equal to L*Mo

Also note that when you move (even at slow speeds) your mass goes up just a small fraction.

This leads us to the reusable nuclear bomb. Assume you make a nuclear bomb with not enough material (less than critcal mass), you put this bomb on a very fast plane. For the people on the plane the mass does not change so it never has critical mass, however, to observer on the ground (who sees the plane moving) the mass increases and goes over critical mass. So those people on the plane when they detonate the bomb it does not complete the reaction but to those on the ground it does. Think about the possibility...

Answer 2

Your main question: As velocity goes up, does speed go up?

The answer: Yes.

I don't remember the exact calculations, but as you approach the speed of light, your mass increase exponentially. That it why INHERENTLY there is a maximum speed, the speed of light. Light is massless, yet it still has a limit, which would mean that light inherent does have a mass.

As your velocity increases closer to light speed, the amount of force needed to continue acceleration would also increase at an exponential rate. This is obvious based on the fundamental equation in physics, F =ma, with F representing force, m representing mass, and a representing acceleration.

In a word, yes, mass increases as velocity increase, but only when velocity approaches near light speeds.

Answer 3

1) Does mass increase as a particle approaches light speed?... Yes.
2) Is it possible to send a missile so fast at a planet that its mass would increase enough to destroy said planet? It maybe theoretically possible(i'm not sure), however, it would be more efficient simply to use the energy being used as fuel as the explosive material....
3) Can a missile be converted into a black hole? No...

Answer 4

Yes, you are correct.

Mass and energy are equivalent - they are the same entity in different configurations. Much like ice and water - same thing, different configuration.

When mass approaches the speed of light, it's mass is increased and the energy needed to accelerate it also increased - until, at the speed of light, the mass, and hence, the energy, are both infinite - which of course is impossible. That is why the speed of light is considered the universal speed limit or Constant (the "C" in E=MC2)

Sometimes, the reality is stranger (and harder to conceptualize) than science fiction.

Answer 5

True, as velocity approaches the speed of light the mass approaches infinity. The physical conclusion is that therefore anything with mass can *never* travel at light speed, because then the mass would become infinite - an impossibility.

Also, the closer you get to light speed the harder it is to accelerate your spaceship, because as it gains mass it also gains inertia (the tendency to maintain whatever state of motion it happens to be in).

One advantage, however, is that time would appear to slow down outside the spacecraft, so it would seem like you'd get to your destination more quickly.

Answer 6

The distance doesn't change to zero. Objects are still the same distances away but perception of time that changes. Assuming relativity holds true, which there are massive flaws in it such as the nature of dark energy, you can never go faster than light relative to your reference in space. You can warp space to travel large distances bu locally you don't have a velocity faster than light. But the question is meaningless as you can't have infinite energy as you described and fictionally speaking any answer could therefore be true since its fictional.

Answer 7

Whats the deal? E=MC2 means that Matter and Energy are interchangable dependent on velocity. For this to be true means that what appears to us as distance is a illusion of perspective. Time and Space are connected in this way where the further away something is the further back in time it is as well.
So its immpossible to even theorize about...