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How much energy would it take for an electron to move at the speed of light?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Simply put, it would in theory require infinite energy. This is obviously not possible, at least not by our current understanding of physics. Therefore, once again in theory, nothing of ANY mass could be accelerated to the speed of light.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoConcerning Albert Einstein's special theory of relativity, no mass can be accelerated to the speed with light: this would acquire an infinitely amount of energy.
For the special interested: the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), recently registered particles (Neutrinos) traveling faster than light. This is rather new research and are being debated and retested per today (2011), and will highly affect modern physics if proven true.
UPDATE: per 2012, CERN found a computer error concerning their calculations of the neutrino's speed: it did nottravel faster than light! Thus, Einstein's special theory of relativity still stands strong.
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If anything has any mass when it's notmoving at the speed of light, then
it takes an infinite amount of energy to accelerate it to the speed of light.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoNo amount of energy can accelerate a material object to the speed of light (at which energy can nevertheless travel). This is because an effect of increased velocity is an apparent increase in mass -- as the object approached the speed of light, its mass would approach infinite, so an infinite amount of energy would be required to accelerate the mass.
However, it is theoretically possible to attain a reasonable fraction of the speed of light, in the range from 0.1c to 0.9c, given a suitable source of energy such as mass annihilation.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoAnything that has mass when it's moving slower than light has infinite mass when
its moving at the speed of light, so its kinetic energy would be infinite. That's a big
part of the reason why no thing can be made to move at the speed of light ... all of
that infinite kinetic energy would have to come from someplace.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe kinetic energy of an object is calculated using the following formula:
KE = 1/2 m(v^2)
Where:
m = mass of the object
v = velocity of the object
If the object is moving at the speed of light, then v = 3x10^8 m/s^2
Without a given mass for the object, the kinetic energy of the object cannot be calculated. If a mass (in Kg) is known, then it is simply plugged into the formula. For example, let's say that the object has a mass of 100kg. Then the formula would be:
KE = 1/2 (100kg)(3x10^8 m/s^2)^2
KE = 1/2 (100Kg)(9x10^16 m/s^2)
KE = 4.5x10^18 J
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoAs the material body travels at the speed of light its relativistic mass becomes infinite. Hence the kinetic energy too becomes infinite which is not practically possible
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIf the object has any mass before it starts moving, then its mass and kinetic energy
at the speed of light are both infinite.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoInfinite.
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If something has low mass would it take less energy to get it to light speed?
As much as we've tried, no one's yet found a loophole in the equations. Regardless of its rest mass, pushing a chunk of matter to the speed of light would result in its acquiring infinite mass, and thus requiring an infinite amount of energy to put it "over the top." Einstein may not have said it in so many words, but the short answer is, "You can't get there from here" -- if you took all the energy in the observable universe, rounded it up into the biggest laser ever and pointed it at a single electron, you couldn't push that electron to the speed of light. Ever.
Why is the speed of electron beam greater than the light speed in cathode ray oscilloscope?
It isn't. Nothing travels faster than light, especially an electron. If it tried it would become infinitely heavy as it reached the speed of light. You would then need an infinite force to accelerate it further. To know more, Google on "special relativity"
What is the mass of a body if it travels speed of light?
Since the electron has 'rest mass', there's not enough energy in the universe toboost one to light speed. With enough energy, you can push an electron as closeas you want to light speed, but it can never get exactly there. At light speed, themass of an electron would be infinite.
Would Light protons stop you if you were going at the speed of light?
No - you would be stopped BEFORE you reach the speed of light, by your increasing mass (among other things). As your speed approaches the speed of light, your mass would approach infinity, and it would require an infinite energy to actually achieve the speed of light.Note that the "speed of light" is not really about light. It is a speed limit of our Universe; some have described it as the "speed of causality".
What determines the frequency of electromagnetic waves?
An EM wave is caused by an energy source, such as something as big as a supernova or something as small as an electron changing in speed. I would say the change in the energy level of the energetic particle that causes the wave determines the frequency of the wave. +++ Whilst you may be right about the quantum physics, the frequency of the wave is that of the energy source, be it in a star or a radio transmitter, driving it.
Why can satellites not attain the speed of light notwithstanding they are in absolute vacuum?
As the speed of an object approaches the speed of light, its kinetic energy approaches infinity. An object moving at the speed of light would require inifinite kinetic energy.
Where does all light originate?
Light is a visual manifestation of energy; resonation of particles at very high frequencies. Mass can become energy and energy can become mass, according to Einstein's relativity theorem. Imagine two substantial masses colliding at high speed. This would release enough energy to produce visible ligt.
If something has low mass would it take less energy to get it to light speed?
As much as we've tried, no one's yet found a loophole in the equations. Regardless of its rest mass, pushing a chunk of matter to the speed of light would result in its acquiring infinite mass, and thus requiring an infinite amount of energy to put it "over the top." Einstein may not have said it in so many words, but the short answer is, "You can't get there from here" -- if you took all the energy in the observable universe, rounded it up into the biggest laser ever and pointed it at a single electron, you couldn't push that electron to the speed of light. Ever.
Why is the speed of electron beam greater than the light speed in cathode ray oscilloscope?
It isn't. Nothing travels faster than light, especially an electron. If it tried it would become infinitely heavy as it reached the speed of light. You would then need an infinite force to accelerate it further. To know more, Google on "special relativity"
What is the mass of a body if it travels speed of light?
Since the electron has 'rest mass', there's not enough energy in the universe toboost one to light speed. With enough energy, you can push an electron as closeas you want to light speed, but it can never get exactly there. At light speed, themass of an electron would be infinite.
Would Light protons stop you if you were going at the speed of light?
No - you would be stopped BEFORE you reach the speed of light, by your increasing mass (among other things). As your speed approaches the speed of light, your mass would approach infinity, and it would require an infinite energy to actually achieve the speed of light.Note that the "speed of light" is not really about light. It is a speed limit of our Universe; some have described it as the "speed of causality".
What would happen if a car could travel at the speed of light?
It would turn to energy
How do you travel as fast as the speed of light?
you do not; it would take way too much energy to do this because your mass is so great. Small subatomic particles can be accelerated to close to he speed of light and they require a lot of energy from a particle accelerator. Nothing can reach the speed of light as it would take an infinite amount of energy
When would quantum theory change?
when data shows electron energy levels are not related to light wavelengths.
What does the funny formula the Einstein made up mean?
energy=mass times speed of light squared (times by itself) (e=energy m=mass c=speed of light) *This formula calculates the energy that an object can release when its atoms are split (Same process used in atomic bombs). The formula means Energy is equal to mass times the speed of light times the speed of light again. In other words energy = mass x speed of light x speed of light. In numbers it would be energy = mass x 299'792.456 x 299'792.456 (Speed of light = 299'792.456 km/s)*
How much energy you would produce if you were going the speed of light?
Since no object with mass can reach the speed of light -- such an object can only approach that speed -- the question is meaningless.
What determines the frequency of electromagnetic waves?
An EM wave is caused by an energy source, such as something as big as a supernova or something as small as an electron changing in speed. I would say the change in the energy level of the energetic particle that causes the wave determines the frequency of the wave. +++ Whilst you may be right about the quantum physics, the frequency of the wave is that of the energy source, be it in a star or a radio transmitter, driving it.
