As an object with mass approaches light speed what causes the mass gain?

Question

I'm guessing that some of the energy put into moving the object faster somehow creates new particles. What kind of particles are created?

Obviously something cant increase in mass unless new matter is created. Anyway would be greatful with some help.

Answer 1

I know hardly any thing about light and all that complicated stuff... But I'll take a complete guess here...

You know how there are different states of matter, like liquid and gas? Well, maybe when matter approaches the speed of light, it's state of matter changes to a state of matter unkown to us. That might some how have something to do with why it gains mass...

Another idea I came up with is that maybe the light combines with the matter when it's travelling that fast, and.... SOMETHING happens... Haha, sorry if my answer isn't what you would have hoped.

Answer 2

The mass which increases is relativistic mass. Rest mass remains the same.

Energy = mc^2

m is relativistic mass.

c is speed of light in vacuum.

c is constant.

Therefore, when we say m increases, what it really means is that energy increases.

So, the question is why energy increases. The answer is because kinetic energy increases as the object speeds up.

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Answer 3

i would assume that as it approaches the speed of light it has so much energy being released that the heat level must be tremendous, and as particles speed up and heat up, they spread out, thus causing mass gain.

owned.

Answer 4

The mass increases due to the increase in kinetic energy as the object approaches the speed of light.  It is natures' way of keeping non-leptons fromt ravelling at the speed of light.  The kineitci energy added to an object to accelerate it hence increase its speed, get partially converted to mass as speed approaches the speed of light.  The faster it goes, the more of the additional kinetic energy gets converted to mass.  And it converts accoirding to the famous equation E = mc^2.

Answer 5

It has to do with kinetic energy, the higher the kinetic energy, the more resistance if offered to an increase in velocity, it has the same effect as increased mass.  

Answer 6

but if it stopped it would return to its original mass right?

its just the speed of it well i can see it in my head but i cant explain it

Answer 7

It doesnt increase in MASS but rather in WEIGHT.The mass of an object is constant but can have different weights under different gravitational conditions or if accelerating.It's all Relativistic.Remember E=mc2.The weight is the force impacted by the object.