Hi, I need help understanding special relativity.
Argument: An object approaching the speed of light will increase in mass. Thus, additional energy is required to speed up the object and as its mass approaches infinitely, the energy required approaches infinite. Hence, the object cannot reach the speed of light.
My counter: The effects of time dilation are apparent to only a stationary observer. The object is not physically gaining mass in its rest frame (ignore E = mc^2). Thus, its mass will not increase and it can approach the speed of light.
Another question: I observe length contraction for an object approaching from rest to relativistic speeds, when it returns to be stationary, does it go back to its original length?
Thanks in advance!
Argument: An object approaching the speed of light will increase in mass. Thus, additional energy is required to speed up the object and as its mass approaches infinitely, the energy required approaches infinite. Hence, the object cannot reach the speed of light.
My counter: The effects of time dilation are apparent to only a stationary observer. The object is not physically gaining mass in its rest frame (ignore E = mc^2). Thus, its mass will not increase and it can approach the speed of light.
Another question: I observe length contraction for an object approaching from rest to relativistic speeds, when it returns to be stationary, does it go back to its original length?
Thanks in advance!