Is it true particles get bigger as they get close to"C"? Can u explain why. Thanks for your time?

Answer 1

No, they don't get "bigger". There are changes to time, mass and distance. A particle has greater mass as it approaches C, and it can never reach the velocity of light because the apparent mass increases too much so that the energy required to accelerate it to C is infinite. Light particles (photons) travel at C but have no mass.

There is an example of a particle generated in the upper atmosphere (I forget what it is) and it should never survive to reach the ground. It does because of two things. From its own frame of reference, the distance it has to travel is shorter than from our own. So it can traverse the shorter distance before being annihilated. From our frame of reference, its time has been slowed down, lengthening its lifespan so that it is able to reach the ground before it is annihilated. If we simply went by the speed of the particle and its lifespan, it would never reach the ground. It does because it travels at a speed where relativistic effects become noticeable.

No, I can not explain why.

Answer 2

a difficult concept to explain in a paragraph but here are some facts to help grasp your question:

1. the particles are ONLY measured bigger by an outside observer.

2. if "you" are the particle(s), then you measure yourself to be the same original size !

3. according the theory of relativity, mass, speed, time, and space are all relative with no fixed properties.

4. this is difficult to stomach but that is the current understanding.

5. one common sense way to understand is that energy and mass can be considered as the same thing- only observed differently at certain times by us.

6. thus, more "energetic" particles such as fast moving things "appear" larger to account for their large energies ( in the form of mass ).

7. hope it shed some light on the matter !

:)