Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: central_va
Uh, BZZZZT!, wrong answer. The equation you WANT is the Lorentz-Fitzgerald Equation

Basically, length contracts and mass goes up as you approach light-speed, with mass approaching infinite as you approach the speed of light. Most of these effects aren't really noticeable until you're at ~99% or above of lightspeed. But as mass goes up, the energy required to accelerate it to even higher speed goes up exponentially. . .

28 posted on 05/17/2012 7:36:25 PM PDT by Salgak (Acme Lasers presents: The Energizer Border. I **DARE** you to cross it. . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies ]


To: Salgak

If you’re not near any celestial body, then there’s no mass for anything. Sure, things have a measurable mass when they’re on the surface of our planet, but what happens to humans and things when they’re out in space? They float around because *!* there’s no gravity to hold them to any surface.

I didn’t take physics, but that seems pretty reasonable to me.

Now, instead of saying it will never be done in the whole history of humankind, how about we figure out a way for our children’s children’s children to visit about star, now? Then when the technology is available, they could leave this planet and solar system, and go to another one.


41 posted on 05/18/2012 12:16:35 AM PDT by wastedyears ("God? I didn't know he was signed onto the system.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson