If my gold bullion moves at relativistic speed, do I become richer according to formula M = Mo/√(1-v²/c²)?

Question

Remo:

Correct (and non-trivial) answer to the satellite laser is here:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20070319133824AAMXACt

Answer 1

Not really... you forgot to factor in the energy bill to make it move that fast. In reality, you would be pretty poor if you had to pay for the cost to make your gold bullion relativistic. Seeing it fly away at c/3 could also make it hard to exchange it for money when you need to.

The moral of the story: the "light" gold in your hand is better than the "heavy" gold in relativistic flight.

;-)

Answer 2

No.

You are either going to have to speed up, or slow the bullion down -- both cost money and energy. Also, the moles of gold don't change.

I also ran across an old question of yours which I thought was great:

"What is the speed of laser spot?
Rapidly rotating guidance laser installed on board
of satellite projects a spot on the ground. The spot
moves with constant speed v = 600,000,000 m/s with
respect to the ground.

What is the speed of the spot observed by tracking
system installed on board of jet fighter flying with
speed s = 1000 m/s in the same direction
(i.e. chasing the spot)?"

The answer is 599,999,000 forward and 600,001,000 in reverse. The spot will suddenly appear on the ground some about 30 degrees behind the plane and then seem to move in both directions.

>>>>>>>

Actually, I was too quick with the numbers, but it will appear behind you at about 30 degrees and go in both directions, about 899,999,000 forward and 300,001,000 in reverse (assuming speed of light is 300,000,000 m/sec).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks Alexander.

When I first saw the problem, I immediatedly saw that the observer would see the spot split in two and go in two directions. I'm not disputing the relativistic solution, but my solution is also correct.

Let's just assume that you are in a high tower someplace. The laser spot will suddenly appear 30 deg. behind you and split up going in two directions, one going forward and one back -- very cool.

There is nothing wrong with the laser spot exceeding the speed of light, the question becomes how do you measure the speed. I just assumed that the spot would quickly get you to fairly flat angles.

I figured the velocity without thinking. I've thought a bit more. Assuming a flat angle (which you get to awfully quick), the forward moving spot will be 'observed' to be at a position 600kk at 3 seconds (or 200kk/sec) and the backward moving spot will be 'observed' to be at a spot 600k away after just one second (or 600kk/sec). In other words, except at vertical where the observer would see the spot moving at 600kk, he would see the forward spot moving at 200kk and the backwards moving at 600kk

If your tracking system is sophisticated enough to take into account the speed of light as a measuring devise (which I don't think we have for a visual observation such as this), the observances then become 600kk/sec forward in all directions, but that is not what the observer in the tower or on the plane sees.

I find it absolutely facinating that your problem has two diametrically different ways of attacking it. :-)

Answer 3

The value of gold as a material is proportional to the number of atoms, which relativity doesn't change. But if you could harness the kinetic energy of your gold bar, you could derive economic benefit from that. It would be the same economic benefit as a lead bar of the same mass.