Re: starship-design: Re: FTL travel

[STAR1SHIP@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/6/00 11:18:40 PM Pacific Daylight Time, stevev@efn.org 
writes:

> 
>  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. 

1/10 C is low speed so the K calculated is near exact. The relativistic 
effects are insignificant though not zero.

> Relativistic
>  kinetic energy grows without bound as an object approaches the speed of
>  light.  

I agree totally. Real kinetic energy does not.


You definitely can't exceed the speed of light by approaching it
>  from below.

To be more precise you cannot see the rocket traveling at twice light speed 
from the below viewpoint of earth. Such velocities relativistic are limited 
by the equation you give to below C. The velocity I calculated was velocity 
real as an observer at rest on earth was not part of the problem and I did 
not ask what velocity relative to earth was obtained.

This is proven in the following manner. At twice light speed the rocket 
coasts and travels a distance of 4 light years in two years ship time. Use 
Einstein's time dilation formula to determine the earth time and divide 4 
light years distance/earth time to determine velocity relativistic. About 
.89C if I recall your solution with the above formula correctly.

When both methods (Einstein's time dilation formula and K = m * ((1 / sqrt(1 
- v^2/c^2)) - 1)agree by returning the same results then the formula is 
proven valid as time dilation has been verified by orbiting clock experiment 
and your  K formula has not.

Prove the K formula returns valid results by agreeing with verified 
experiment. Show work.

The v in your formula above should be subscripted relativistic to avoid being 
confused with velocity susbscripted real. Dropping the subscript Einstein 
used led to imagining  velocities relativistic to be real. Imaginary real 
numbers and imaginary numbers are common root solution errors of relativistic 
formulas. 

Tom