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richerrich
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Does that mean the spaceship has become bigger or denser up to the subatomic level? Or is it just more atoms have stuck to the spaceship? What happens when it slows down? The added mass just 'evaporates'?
Added mass refers to the increase in the mass of an object as it approaches the speed of light. This is a result of the energy and momentum of light particles being added to the object as it moves faster.
As a spaceship approaches the speed of light, its added mass increases, making it more difficult for the spaceship to accelerate further. This is due to the added mass requiring more energy to move at the same speed as before.
No, according to Einstein's theory of relativity, the speed of light is the maximum speed that can be reached in the universe. As the added mass of the spaceship increases, it would require an infinite amount of energy to reach the speed of light.
As the added mass of a spaceship increases, time dilation also increases. This means that time appears to slow down for the spaceship as it approaches the speed of light, relative to an outside observer.
While it is not possible to completely overcome added mass, there are theories and technologies being developed that could potentially reduce the effects of added mass. For example, using advanced propulsion systems or harnessing the power of antimatter could help to mitigate the impact of added mass on a spaceship travelling at the speed of light.