Relativity question.

merper · Jul 26, 2006

Is there any physical law that prevents some invariant mass from being converted to it's corresponding relativistic energy(e=mc^2) and then being converted back to some other form of matter with the same mass? Assume it's an ideal process with negligible losses.

Don't know how you would go about doing this, just wondering if it is possible.

Ordinary_Guy · Jul 26, 2006

merper said:
Is there any physical law that prevents some invariant mass from being converted to it's corresponding relativistic energy(e=mc^2) and then being converted back to some other form of matter with the same mass? Assume it's an ideal process with negligible losses.

Don't know how you would go about doing this, just wondering if it is possible.

As far as I know, no – there is no such theoretical limitation.

In practice, it gets stickier. Your "ideal process" would have to be fantastically complex: every conversion through known process releases some level of secondary particles unless you either 1.) have a novel method of controlling the basic 4 forces or 2.) can compensate for lost energy. Either way, it's likely that to preserve X amount of matter from energy conversion and back again that you'll be using an equal [huge] amount of energy in the preservation/reconstitution.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 26, 2006

Energy

Theoretically, no. Realistically, you'll probably have to add some amount of energy because reaching 100% efficiency is nearly impossible.

ChunkyC · Jul 26, 2006

Of course if you have a nice fat antimatter reactor to power your replicator so you can make a cup of Earl Grey tea out of the excess energy it throws off....

Soyarma · Jul 26, 2006

If I were a couple of thousand light years from a good cup of earl grey I'd be more than willing to mash some anti-hydrogen against some regular hydrogen for a cup of the brew.

Maybe that's the whole thing behind the replicators. Carting little bits of antimater around is cheaper on fuel consumption than all the earl grey the captain needs.

TheIT · Jul 26, 2006

A good, strong cup of tea powers your Infinite Improbability Drive, too.

merper · Jul 26, 2006

Cool, thanks.

In practice, it gets stickier. Your "ideal process" would have to be fantastically complex: every conversion through known process releases some level of secondary particles unless you either 1.) have a novel method of controlling the basic 4 forces or 2.) can compensate for lost energy. Either way, it's likely that to preserve X amount of matter from energy conversion and back again that you'll be using an equal [huge] amount of energy in the preservation/reconstitution.

This would be where the fiction part of science fiction comes in. >_-

Higgins · Sep 3, 2006

Just accellerate the mass

merper said:
Is there any physical law that prevents some invariant mass from being converted to it's corresponding relativistic energy(e=mc^2) and then being converted back to some other form of matter with the same mass? Assume it's an ideal process with negligible losses.

Don't know how you would go about doing this, just wondering if it is possible.

You can just accellerate the mass and come out with a lot more mass at the end than you had at the beginning. This happens all the time when relativistic "cosmic ray" (particles in this case) hit things. For example, a very fast proton could cause a "cascade" of much "heavier" (though not very stable) particles.

badducky · Sep 3, 2006

Of course not. It's called "Magic".

Huge advantage of fantasy= "Hey, my research does not support my story needs." *nudges research aside* "That's too bad. Well, onto my rough draft..."

I love fantasy.

allion · Sep 4, 2006

Yep. My world, my rules. Just be consistent with the magic usage.

Karen

dclary · Sep 4, 2006

badducky said:
Of course not. It's called "Magic".

Snarf! Lol!

Relativity question.

merper

Ordinary_Guy

Industrial Strength

Jamesaritchie

ChunkyC

It's hard being green

Soyarma

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

merper

Higgins

badducky

No Time For Chitchat, Kemosabe.

allion

Character assassin

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary