Why does the mass of an object approach infinity as it's velocity approaches the speed of light?

Question

I realize this is a tough question, but it just doesn't make any sense to me why this would happen. I've also heard that people have sent particles faster than the speed of light but if that happened then the mass of those particles would have approached infinity for a moment which mean they would have almost limitles gravitational field and all heck would break loose. Does anybody else have a problem with this? :)

Answer 1

The first thing to understand is that mass increase at relativistic velocities only occurs when an observation is made *outside* the frame of reference in which the original mass is located. You can compare this to the so-called 'twins paradox' where one twin travels away from the other at near light speed. To the twin left behind in their reference frame time for the other twin appears to be moving faster. However, to the other twin in their reference frame the rate of time appears normal. Just substitute 'mass' for 'time.' To the outside observer, the apparent mass increase is due to the distant object taking on more energy because of its great speed, and energy and mass are interchangeable under e = m*c^2

As for those experiments you mentioned that have accelerated particles beyond the speed of light, you may have misunderstood. Under carefully controlled lab experiments *light* itself has been caused to travel faster than the speed of light. Scientists have also succeeded in slowing light down to virtually a complete stop.

Answer 2

If you have heard that people have sent physical particles at faster than the speed of light, then you heard wrong. No particle can exceed the speed of light, and one way to look at that is as you explained in your question. The mass would have to exceed infinity (actually, it becomes imaginary, involving √-1),

As to why this happens, you need to study the development of the Special Theory of Relativity. It is much too difficult to explain here, but it is not that hard to understand. Many books are available on the subject, including some by Einstein himself. Nothing more than high-school algebra is needed.

To summarize, the theory reconciles the electromagnetic theory of Maxwell with the "relativity principle" (laws of physics are invariant with respect to motion at uniform velocity). The transformations of space, time and mass are a result of that.

Answer 3

This is according to Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity:
According to the theory:

m = M / sqrt(1 - v/c)

where, M is the rest mass; m is the mass at velocity v.

Consider this: IF v = c :
Equation becomes:

m = M / sqrt(1 - c/c)

m = M / sqrt(1 - 1)

m = M / 0

m = infinity.

And, due to this theory no particle can ever, travel faster than the speed of light.

Answer 4

I'd suggest you check your sources about people having moved particles faster than light.
As for why the mass of a particle increases? All of the relativistic effects (time dilation, mas increase, length contraction, etc.) are either proportional or inversely proportional to
√(1-v²/c²) and all of those effects have been measured hundreds of thousands of times and the results agree to within a fraction of a percent of the prediction.
You need to take a serious Physics class that includes Special Relativity.

Doug

Answer 5

See "gamma" in this article.
http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/vvc/theory/relativity.html
Since light speed cannot be reached by a mass, extra energy adds to mass on a rapidly steepening curve.
The difficulty arises from applying everyday experience to situations outside of everyday experience.

Answer 6

the speed of light is not infinity