Unraveling the Mystery of Particle Accelerators and High-Speed Travel

In summary: The 2nd question does not have an answer because it depends on A LOT of things, such as what kind of acceleration mechanism is being used, how many cells are in the linac, etc.
  • #1
amt
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So, according to Relativity, as an oject approaches the speed of light, it's mass increases and the Energy required to sustain the motion goes to infinity, basically making high speed travel almost impossible.

How is it that Particle accelerators are able to accelerate Protons at 99.99% of 'c'? Protons do possesses mass don't they?
 
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  • #2
amt said:
So, according to Relativity, as an oject approaches the speed of light, it's mass increases and the Energy required to sustain the motion goes to infinity, basically making high speed travel almost impossible.

How is it that Particle accelerators are able to accelerate Protons at 99.99% of 'c'? Protons do possesses mass don't they?

They are able to do that using lots and lots of energy/power/electricity, and by kicking the particles faster a little bit at a time during each pass. It is why the Tevatron at Fermilab is so large, and why the LHC being built at CERN is even larger. Just to go from 99.99%c to 99.999%c takes A LOT of resources.

Zz.
 
  • #3
To accelerate 1 proton to 99% of 'c', how much energy is required?

If the particle accelerator has a radius of 5 miles, how many revolutions has the proton got to make before achieving 99% of 'c'?

Thanks.
 
  • #4
amt said:
To accelerate 1 proton to 99% of 'c', how much energy is required?

If the particle accelerator has a radius of 5 miles, how many revolutions has the proton got to make before achieving 99% of 'c'?

Thanks.

Er... just find the KE with v=0.99c if you want to do this classically, or add a "gamma" factor into the relatistic KE. That will give you roughly the ballpark values.

The 2nd question does not have an answer because it depends on A LOT of things, such as what kind of acceleration mechanism is being used, how many cells are in the linac, etc.

Zz.
 

1. What is a particle accelerator?

A particle accelerator is a scientific instrument used to accelerate charged particles to high energies and then collide them with other particles. These collisions allow scientists to study the fundamental building blocks of matter and the forces that govern their interactions.

2. How does a particle accelerator work?

Particle accelerators work by using electric and magnetic fields to accelerate charged particles, such as protons or electrons, to high energies. These particles are then steered and focused using powerful magnets before being collided with a target or another beam of particles.

3. What are the benefits of particle accelerators?

Particle accelerators have many benefits, including advancing our understanding of the universe, helping us create new technologies and medical treatments, and allowing us to test and verify theories in physics.

4. Are particle accelerators dangerous?

Particle accelerators are generally safe for both the operators and the public. The high-energy particles produced in accelerators are carefully controlled and contained, and safety measures are in place to prevent any potential hazards.

5. How large are particle accelerators?

The size of particle accelerators can vary greatly, from small tabletop machines to large facilities spanning several kilometers. The largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, has a circumference of 27 kilometers.

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