Mass Dialation HELP! (1 Viewer)

[kurt.physics]

Hello,:wave:

I can understand the equation and the mathematical derivaition of Mass Dialation but I first of all dont understand why mass is needed to be relative. And, secondly, how can an object have 2 masses at the same time!!!
PLEASE HELP, i can almost taste the insane asylum!

 

[Ozza]

Well you answered you second problem with your first... Because mass is relative to both frames of reference. Simply put, the mass of a moving object is heavier than when it is stationary. If it helps, think of it this way, scientists believe you cannot accelerate to the speed of light because of F=ma.. the faster you travel, the more mass you seem to gain, and they have no way of providing enough force to counter this.

This is because an object with a steady force applied to it cannot continue to accelerate. Inertia (the resistance to acceleration) must increase while the object gets faster. But inertia is a measure of mass... so the mass has increased. This mass increase is because of the famous equation e=mc2 where mass and energy are interchangeable.

And that's why mass is relative, you appear to get heavier when you're on a ship (or a planet) that's travelling at high velocity, because it is only noticeable at relativistic speeds.