and then after it has travelled an desirable distance from the earth, set off a nuclear explosion far out in space that will send the object hurtling past the earth at or over lightspeed, hopefully studying it as it passes?
2007-02-19 07:04:07 · 5 answers · asked by jkp 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Nope, there is nowhere near enough energy in the bomb to accelerate anything to the speed of light, plus its a very inefficient means of propulsion. Scientists study particles travelling at or near the speed of light all the time in all of the particle colliders around the world. That is what they were built for, but even they are very limited on the amount of power they can impart to a particle. We've only scratched that surface of what can be done with them, and each progressive generation becomes more and more powerful, allowing us to observe deeper into the structure of matter than ever. Below is the link to CERN, one of the premier particle accelerator facilities. They have several new experiments due to come on-line this year...
2007-02-19 07:22:46 · answer #1 · answered by Beach_Bum 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nuclear may not do it, a Gravity Pendulum with a release set could reach speeds that would eventually or could in theory be accelerated by other gravitational fields to near light speed.
2007-02-19 07:14:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Until someone finds a way around relativity you will find it impossible to accelerate even the smallest bit of matter to light speed itself, never mind faster. It's the Law.
2007-02-19 07:25:42 · answer #3 · answered by hznfrst 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you'll need a nuclear blast with infinite energy to be able to do that which is in practical terms impossible
2007-02-19 07:07:41 · answer #4 · answered by black_lotus007@sbcglobal.net 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
for every action there is a reaction ..Basic Physics 101.
2007-02-19 07:14:52 · answer #5 · answered by Dfirefox 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋