Is a Rocket at Light Speed Truly Infinite Mass?

In summary, the conversation discussed the concept of a rocket traveling at the speed of light and its effects on the universe. The speaker argued that the book's idea of a rocket acquiring infinite mass and creating a gravitational force that restarts the universe is not plausible. They explained that it is impossible to describe an object with mass traveling at the speed of light in relativity, making any conclusions about its effects nonsensical. The conversation ended with the speaker closing the thread.
  • #1
farolero
166
10
I read some time ago a resume of the book the Crack In The Cosmic Egg and this is more or less what it told:

When a rocket acquires light speed its mass becomes infinite which creates a gravity force field that crunches all the universe making it restart.

Its argued that to propel a rocket to light speed you need infinite work but then your time is zero so let's check the equations:

Work=force by distance
Force=mass by acceleration
Acceleration=velocity by time

But time zero so velocity infinite so aceleration infinite so force infinite so work infinite

So how plausible do you think this book is?
 
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  • #2
farolero said:
So how plausible do you think this book is?

If your description is accurate, not at all.
 
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  • #3
It's impossible to describe an object with mass traveling at the speed of light in relativity. So any conclusions drawn from relativity about what would happen if something with mass did travel at the speed of light are nonsense.
 
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  • #4
Ibix said:
It's impossible to describe an object with mass traveling at the speed of light in relativity. So any conclusions drawn from relativity about what would happen if something with mass did travel at the speed of light are nonsense.
On these words of wisdom, thread closed.
 
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Related to Is a Rocket at Light Speed Truly Infinite Mass?

1. How does a rocket's mass change as it approaches the speed of light?

As a rocket approaches the speed of light, its mass increases exponentially. This is due to the effects of special relativity, which states that an object's mass increases as its velocity increases.

2. Does a rocket's mass actually become infinite at the speed of light?

No, a rocket's mass does not become infinite at the speed of light. While its mass does increase, it never reaches infinity. This is because, according to the theory of relativity, it would take an infinite amount of energy to accelerate an object to the speed of light.

3. How does an increase in mass affect a rocket's ability to accelerate?

As a rocket's mass increases, its ability to accelerate decreases. This is due to the relationship between force and mass, as described by Newton's second law of motion. As the mass increases, more force is required to accelerate the object at the same rate.

4. Can a rocket ever reach the speed of light?

No, it is physically impossible for a rocket to reach the speed of light. As an object approaches the speed of light, its mass increases and it requires an infinite amount of energy to accelerate further. Therefore, the speed of light is considered to be the ultimate speed limit in the universe.

5. How does the concept of infinite mass at the speed of light impact space travel?

The concept of infinite mass at the speed of light has significant implications for space travel. It means that it would take an infinite amount of energy to accelerate a spacecraft to the speed of light, making it unattainable. This is why scientists are constantly exploring alternative methods of propulsion, such as nuclear fusion, to overcome this limitation.

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