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Re: starship-design: Re: FTL travel
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