Re: starship-design: Re: FTL travel

[Steve VanDevender <stevev@efn.org>]

STAR1SHIP@aol.com writes:
 > Checking my math.
 > if E(kinteic)=1/2MV^2
 > and E=MC^2

The formula for relativistic kinetic energy with respect to velocity is:

K = m * ((1 / sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2)) - 1)

K = kinetic energy
m = object mass
v = object velocity
c = speed of light

K = 1/2 * m * v^2 is only a low-speed approximation.  Relativistic
kinetic energy grows without bound as an object approaches the speed of
light.  You definitely can't exceed the speed of light by approaching it
from below.

See pages 201 and following in the second edition of Taylor and
Wheeler's _Spacetime Physics_.