re: starship-design: Proton mass

[wharton@physics.ucla.edu (Ken Wharton)]

>As you aproach the speed of light, mass increases. Can mass be made to
>be 10,000 times its rest mass by going at relativistic velocity?

Sure-- if you can get it going fast enough.  But keep in mind that the
mass increase is relative as well; it will only increase its mass from
the perspective of someone else.  If you're riding along in a relativistic
spaceship you never see your own mass increase; just the mass of the rest
of the universe.

Ken