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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!wivax!apollo!nazgul
From: nazgul@apollo.UUCP (Kee Hinckley)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Query - re. Speed of Light
Message-ID: <136@apollo.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Oct-83 15:04:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: apollo.136
Posted: Wed Oct 12 15:04:06 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Oct-83 21:24:25 EDT
References: <256@flairvax.UUCP>
Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, Mass.
Lines: 13


    I'd like to add a complication to all of this.  It was stated that an object could
not attain the speed of light (unless it had no rest mass) for reasons that I won't repeat.
It seems to me however, that part of the concept is that it would take more energy than
you can carry (alternativly the idea is that your mass becomes infinite, in which case
this question is moot).
    Framework: Lets hypothesize a light-sail ship.  One side is totally transparent to
light and massed objects, the other is completely resistant.  Presumably the force of
light upon this vehicle will cause it to accelerate.
    Query: Can this ship reach the speed of light?  (Why/Why not?)

                                                -kee