The Effects of Relativistic Mass on High Speed Collisions

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of relativistic mass and its effects on the perception of size during high-speed collisions. It clarifies that an observer in a spaceship traveling at relativistic speeds does not perceive other objects, such as planets and asteroids, as larger due to relativistic mass. Instead, objects contract along the direction of motion, maintaining their size perpendicular to that direction. This fundamental principle of relativity is crucial for understanding high-speed interactions in physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Einstein's Theory of Relativity
  • Familiarity with the concept of relativistic mass
  • Knowledge of length contraction in special relativity
  • Basic principles of frame of reference in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity in detail
  • Research the implications of relativistic mass on high-speed objects
  • Explore the concept of length contraction and its mathematical formulation
  • Investigate frame of reference transformations in relativistic physics
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, particularly those interested in relativity, astrophysics, and high-speed particle interactions.

nemosum
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Lets say that there is a man flying in a spaceship going fast enough that to another observer standing on the Earth he appears to be twice as big as normal due to relativistic mass (I might be wrong here, and relativistic mass doesn't make you look bigger). From the man's frame he would say he is at rest, and that everything else is going near c. Thus wouldn't everything else (planets, asteroids, sun, etc.) appear to be twice as big as normal to him? And if so, why wouldn't he see the Earth and moon collide because they're bigger? Especially with length contraction. This doesn't seem right, but I don't know what I'm not getting.

nemo
 
Physics news on Phys.org
No, the increase in relativistic mass does not make things "look bigger". Moving objects contract along the direction of motion, and maintain the same size perpendicular to the direction of motion.
 
OK, thanks.
 

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