Ok really dumb hypothetical nearly impossible question

[lederhosen]

what would happen if you were to be hit with 287 TEV Lead Ion? would you even feel anything or would it kill you? i can't wrap my head around it why i thought it up idk..

 

[bluesurge863]

I assume you mean a 287 TeV lead ion beam, a la the Large Hadron Collider?

Well, I wouldn't recommend standing in the way of it, if you catch my drift. That much energy requires an awful lot of speed behind it.

 

[K^2]

It all depends on the number of particles. One won't do anything. A beam in a descent accelerator will slice right through you. And then there are all variations in between.

 

[DaveC426913]

Presumably, the OP is asking about one atom. I think he understands fairly well what would happen if he were hit with a beam of atoms at that energy level.

 

[f03cuss]

Momentum is the ultimate measure of whether you would want to be hit by something. Mass times Velocity.. Rather be hit by a very fast golf ball or a very slow golf cart?

 

[DaveC426913]

Momentum is the ultimate measure of whether you would want to be hit by something. Mass times Velocity.. Rather be hit by a very fast golf ball or a very slow golf cart?

1] There are other factors. Conceivably a single atom might pass right through, taking all of its momentum with it, thus doing little damage.

2] Which would you prefer? A hi-speed golf ball or low-speed golf cart?

 

[f03cuss]

1] There are other factors. Conceivably a single atom might pass right through, taking all of its momentum with it, thus doing little damage.

2] Which would you prefer? A hi-speed golf ball or low-speed golf cart?

Haha, I'll take the golf cart as long as we're talking low, low speed :) Good point about the single atom. I guess I was just talking more in general.