What is the required energy for reaching 99.99999c velocity?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the energy required to accelerate a mass of 1 gram to a velocity of 99.99999c, incorporating concepts such as time dilation and the Lorentz factor. Participants also explore the energy yield from nuclear fission of uranium in relation to achieving this velocity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant introduces the concept of time dilation and the Lorentz factor while seeking to calculate the energy required to reach 99.99999c.
  • Another participant presents the formulas for total energy at rest and at velocity, along with the expression for the energy required to achieve the specified velocity.
  • Subsequent posts inquire about the energy yield from nuclear fission of uranium, suggesting a connection to the initial energy calculation.
  • One participant expresses a desire to determine how much energy from nuclear fission is necessary to reach 99.99999c.
  • A later reply references the earlier energy calculation as potentially relevant to the question about nuclear fission energy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to be exploring related concepts but do not reach a consensus on the specific energy values or the relationship between nuclear fission energy and the velocity calculation.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the formulas used and the relationship between mass-energy equivalence and energy required for acceleration, but these assumptions are not fully explored or resolved.

maxwilli06
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So I'm introducing myself to formulas and such. I just am going over time dilation and the Lorentz factor.
Basically now I want to calculate how much energy would be require to bring a mass of 1 (grams) to a velocity of 99.99999c. I'm assuming this is pretty straightforward . correct me if I'm wrong.
 
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maxwilli06 said:
So I'm introducing myself to formulas and such. I just am going over time dilation and the Lorentz factor.
Basically now I want to calculate how much energy would be require to bring a mass of 1 (grams) to a velocity of 99.99999c. I'm assuming this is pretty straightforward . correct me if I'm wrong.

The total energy at rest is [tex]E_0=mc^2[/tex]
The total energy at [tex]v[/tex] is [tex]E_1=\gamma mc^2[/tex]
The energy vraiation you are looking for is [tex]\Delta W = E_1-E_0= (\gamma-1)mc^2[/tex]

where :

[tex]\gamma=\frac {1}{\sqrt(1-(v/c)^2)}[/tex]

and [tex]v=.9999999c[/tex]
 
Last edited:
great thanks.
so to take this further.
How much energy does nuclear fission of Uranium yield?
 
maxwilli06 said:
great thanks.
so to take this further.
How much energy does nuclear fission of Uranium yield?

This question has no realtionship to the previous one. The answer has to do with the amount of mass change:

[tex]\Delta E =\Delta m c^2[/tex]

I bet you knew that already.
 
ya. I'm trying to figure out exactly how much energy derived from nuclear fission of uranium is needed to achieve .99999c
 
maxwilli06 said:
ya. I'm trying to figure out exactly how much energy derived from nuclear fission of uranium is needed to achieve .99999c

You have your answer at post #2
 

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