I have been doing a little bit of reading about this, so im in no way an expert on the subject (yet). But while looking at the equation E=mc2 I am thinking that it might not be possible to get to the speed of light. My reasoning behind this is as an object gains speed it also increases in mass. So if someone or something were to reach light speed it would reach infinite mass. Now as you gain mass you also start to generate gravity right? So if you were reach an infinite mass would you collapse under your own gravity?
2007-07-23 07:46:04 · 18 answers · asked by Shavvo 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It isn't quite so simple, because the mass depends on who is observing it. And it isn't only mass that changes, it is time and distance too.
But the short answer is, no, because in relativity gravity is a curvature of space, not a force proportional to mass.
2007-07-23 09:09:15 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The infinite or even near infinite mass of an object moving at light speed only pertains to the mass as perceived by some outside observer, i.e., you're moving away from me at light speed so your mass *to me* would seem infinite, but to you everything would be normal. Even then, the infinite mass is not the kind of mass we're used to dealing with, as the *physical* mass of Earth or a star or a rock. The infinite mass in your problem is related to e = mc^2...the equivalence of mass and energy. Since you're moving at the speed of light, your energy due to your velocity would be enormous, and m = e / c^2
2007-07-23 15:30:12 · answer #2 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Equations are good for what they are worth - the are the onset to something that leads you away from your question - does anything collapse by the speed of light? The answer is no. The most intellectual answer would be NO of course not. Mixing pears and apples can get you into a bit a kerfuffel. Speeds exceeding that of light can be achieved - sending stuff at those speeds leave and arrive, there is no damage - no collapse so the equation you speak of does not enter the equation...it has nothing to do with the given equation..though study more it might help.
2007-07-23 16:35:42 · answer #3 · answered by upyerjumper 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your last four sentences are not correct. An object DOES NOT increase in mass as it increases in speed. The speed of light is constant and as an object increases in speed the time slows down for that object. This is how science has determined the speed of light to travel at a constant velocity. I don't know where you heard that objects increase in mass as it speeds up but you might want to check your sources. Hope this helped clear up the confusion.
2007-07-23 16:01:57 · answer #4 · answered by justask23 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That equation DOES NOT mean that you have to reach the speed of light in any way.
The formula means that mass and energy are one and the same, that you can go back and forth. By energy I mean nuclear energy.
For example, a few atoms of Uranium and you get a huge nuclear blast. Why? Because you take the puny mass of a few atoms, multiply that number with the speed of light squared, and you get a HUGE number.
If you choose mass in kilograms and the speed of light in meters per second, then the answer will be in Joules.
Once again, you DO NOT need to go the speed of light.
2007-07-23 15:27:53 · answer #5 · answered by Jimbomonkey1234 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Correct about not being able to reach the speed of light. According to Einstein at least. Read Steven Hawking's " A Brief History of the Universe"
2007-07-23 14:54:02 · answer #6 · answered by Spade, Sam Spade 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
okay you got it right and you got it wrong at the same time.
what you have wrong:
you dont gain mass when you speed up, but you do gain energy. einstein figured out that matter and energy are one entity called matterenergy. just like space and time are one called spacetime.
so when an object increases its speed it gets smaller but gains more energy.
its true that you cant go the speed of light for two reasons. one of the reasons is that when you go faster you get smaller, if you go so fast you are at the speed of light, you will get so small you cant get smaller, hence you cant go anyfaster. thats why you need infinite mass, so that you can continue to loose it. and yes you will collapse on your own gravity
2007-07-23 15:30:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Your gain in mass is only as perceived by external observers. Because of relativity, you -- as someone traveling close to the speed of light -- are allowed to claim that it is the whole universe that is moving in the opposite direction at close to the speed of light, and your claim is just as justified by any experiment you can conduct and demonstrate.
2007-07-23 15:04:26 · answer #8 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I haven't heard that arguement; the one I've heard is, that as you approach the speed of light, and your mass increases, no matter how much fuel you have on board your ship, you don't have enough thrust to push the mass you have that little extra velocity to achieve the speed of light.
2007-07-23 14:51:05 · answer #9 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can't reach the speed of light and you can't have infinite mass. What you are describing are things that come as close as we know we can get: black holes.
2007-07-23 15:17:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋