Can Energy-to-Mass Converters Achieve Near-Perfect Efficiency in the Future?

Thread starter guss
Start date Jun 28, 2011

AI Thread Summary

The discussion centers on the theoretical potential of energy-to-mass converters achieving near-perfect efficiency, with some participants questioning the feasibility of such technology. While the concept of converting energy to mass and vice versa is rooted in relativistic physics, it is acknowledged that practical limitations, such as energy losses primarily due to heat and gravitational potential, would hinder achieving high efficiency. Participants explore the cyclical nature of energy and matter, emphasizing that repeated conversions would ultimately lead to diminishing returns in mass production. The conversation also touches on the challenges of energy transfer methods, suggesting that mechanical systems could mitigate some losses but would still face inherent inefficiencies. Overall, the consensus leans toward skepticism regarding the practicality of achieving the proposed efficiency levels in energy-to-mass conversion systems.

Jul 2, 2011

bcrowell

Staff Emeritus

Science Advisor

Insights Author

Ugh, what a mess. This thread started off with an example that basically had nothing to do with relativity. Then guss made a new (interesting!) version that did have to do with relativity, but posted it both here and in the relativity forum. Guss, please don't duplicate threads like that -- it's inconsiderate, because people expend double the effort and it wastes their time. Discussion has been going on for quite a while now in both threads, so it's not practical to combine them. Since this thread has been mostly about example #1, and the other thread has been mostly about example #2, I'm going to close this thread and ask that anyone who has been participating in this thread's discussion of #2 do so in the thread in the relativity forum.