Is Traveling at the Speed of Light Impossible?

AI Thread Summary
Traveling at the speed of light is deemed impossible due to the relativistic mass equation m=mo/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2), which indicates that as velocity (v) approaches the speed of light (c), the mass (m) becomes infinite. This results in an infinite energy requirement to reach light speed, making it physically unattainable. The discussion also touches on the concept of imaginary mass, which arises when attempting to calculate mass at or beyond the speed of light. As velocity nears light speed, total energy approaches infinity, reinforcing the impossibility of achieving or exceeding light speed. Thus, according to the principles of relativity, traveling at light speed remains a theoretical impossibility.
rojasharma
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use the equation m=mo/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) to show that traveling at the speed of light or beyond is impossible.
 
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rojasharma said:
use the equation m=mo/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) to show that traveling at the speed of light or beyond is impossible.

1. what is the limit of that expression whene v--->c?

2. what is an immaginary mass?

think
marco
 
mo is the mass of the object measured in the refrence frame in which it is at rest. m is the mass of the object as measured in a refrence frame moving with speed. in the equation v can never equal to c...it will...be less because of sqrt 1-v2/c2
 
rojasharma said:
mo is the mass of the object measured in the refrence frame in which it is at rest. m is the mass of the object as measured in a refrence frame moving with speed. in the equation v can never equal to c...it will...be less because of sqrt 1-v2/c2

yes bu why u cannot reach c? what kind of singularity u get? what does it mean physically?

ciao
 
It's best to think of the m in your equation as the total energy of the object relative to the rest frame (including the E=m0*c^2 energy). So what happens to total energy as v approaches c?
 
the energy approches infinity?
 
Yessss.
 
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