E=mc2 Polling Question

[gravityblock]

Pay careful attention to the words in bold, or you will more than likely not catch the contradiction.

In Special Relativity Theory, mass converts to energy as an object approaches the speed of light.  If this were true, then instead of having infinite mass as the theory proposes, a spaceship should be massless at the speed of light.   However, if the spaceship were massless at the speed of light, then it would have no energy because the mass would be zero.

I do not see how physicists could have ignored this simple contradiction for 100 years.  No doubt, the die-hard relativists will come out swinging with arguments that there is relativistic mass, which is different from rest mass, or some other such nonsense.

[mr_bojangles]

I'm not sure i understand what you're asking

are you suggesting that the theory states all mass converts to energy while approaching the speed of light, whereupon there is an infinite amount of mass supplying the transference from mass to energy?

are you asking where the energy went from the mass of the spaceship?

i believe the mass they are referring to is the mass of whatever propellant/force/driving mechanism of the spaceship, suggesting that the speed of light could only be acheived with a mechanism that has no mass or has yeilds of over 100% return


however if it were possible to get to the speed of light in a spaceship, i don't think i understand your logic as to why all mass gets converted into pure energy, but if it does then there shouldnt be any mass because it was converted into energy to begin with



those are my thoughts

maybe i should re look at those bolded words

very interesting thoughts though

theory is fun to "theororize" about




until next time

[hoptoad]

In Special Relativity Theory, mass converts to energy as an object approaches the speed of light.

Are you sure of that interpretation? I was under the impression that the mass of an object supposedly increases as it approaches light speed.

Isn't that why most physicists suggest that it is impossible for ordinary matter to reach photon (light) speed ?

The energy required to accelerate mass to light speed increases exponentially as the mass approaches light speed.
The faster the mass goes, the larger the mass becomes, the more energy required to continue to accelerate it.

Hmmnnn I'm not sure either way!

[Pirate88179]

No offense intended but, you need to go back and re-read the theory.  Your posit is not what the theory states at all.  so, I disagree with your question here as it is not accurate.

Bill

[gravityblock]

No offense intended but, you need to go back and re-read the theory.  Your posit is not what the theory states at all.  so, I disagree with your question here as it is not accurate.

Bill

Then please tell me what the theory states?

The equation E=mc2 states that energy and mass are equivalent.

E is not mathematically equal to me2 , which in tum means that the "equation" so often attributed to Einstein, that is E = me2 , is not a true equality.

If the photon is massless, then it can not have energy according to the equation above, even when traveling at the speed of light (E = 0c2, equals 0 energy).  If the photon has mass, then it can not go the speed of light according to the equation above and Special Relativity.

Please let me know what your interpretations of Special Relativity is regarding Energy = Mass times the speed of light squared.

In fact, the question that I asked, was a statement in the Secrets of the Aether book - third edition...this is not my own interpretations of Relativity.