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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Relativity and marshmallows
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 10/25/2011 05:57:43 PM · #1
If a marshmallow traveled at 99.99 percent the speed of light hit the Earth, what would happen?
 10/25/2011 06:17:32 PM · #2
So an approx. 7g object travelling at ~299,762,479m/s, assuming it's unaffected by the atmosphere, will in relativistic terms have 15210000GJ of energy - about the same as a nuclear weapon but with the force concentrated in one direction and without the fallout... I think basically you wouldn't want to be near it when it impacts, but I don't think there would be anything catastrophic happening to the Earth as a result, as a guess maybe a very slight but measurable change to the Earth's orbit.

Of course some/all of the above could be wrong, I'm not a physicist =).
 10/25/2011 06:23:59 PM · #3
Originally posted by HawkinsT:
I'm not a physicist =).

You had me going for a while though... ;)
10/25/2011 06:42:17 PM · #4
It was reported a few weeks ago that scientists measured some neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. They have done it twice, but are waiting for independent confirmation to report it as absolutely true. If confirmed, this will punch a big hole in relativity theory. Actually it is quite exciting.
 10/25/2011 06:43:31 PM · #5
Originally posted by HawkinsT:
assuming it's unaffected by the atmosphere


This was the consideration that put me off even trying to work it out. Started thinking about thermal transfer and the (lack of) integrity of the marshmallow. My instincts say the OP's scenario would result in a very swift vaporisation of the marshmallow and an airborne shockwave of a fair magnitude.

No physics expertise either - so you can regard me as a charlatan.
 10/25/2011 06:46:20 PM · #6
Originally posted by paulbtlw:
Originally posted by HawkinsT:
assuming it's unaffected by the atmosphere


This was the consideration that put me off even trying to work it out. Started thinking about thermal transfer and the (lack of) integrity of the marshmallow. My instincts say the OP's scenario would result in a very swift vaporisation of the marshmallow and an airborne shockwave of a fair magnitude.

No physics expertise either - so you can regard me as a charlatan.


I do have a nagging suspicion that burn time > atmospheric transit time making impact inevitable though...

(You see, I really am clueless) - it's a great problem though (the marshmallow, not me being clueless).
 10/25/2011 06:46:29 PM · #7
Originally posted by mike_311:
If a marshmallow traveled at 99.99 percent the speed of light hit the Earth, what would happen?

It would confirm that there are other marshmallows in the universe besides our own.
 10/25/2011 06:47:08 PM · #8
But you're assuming the weight of the marshmallow is 7g stationary. In that case as it reaches 99.99% speed of light, it's mass will have increased (and size decreased) thus the amount of energy required to have propelled it to that speed will also have increased.
10/25/2011 06:50:06 PM · #9
Originally posted by cloudsme:
It was reported a few weeks ago that scientists measured some neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. They have done it twice, but are waiting for independent confirmation to report it as absolutely true. If confirmed, this will punch a big hole in relativity theory. Actually it is quite exciting.


It will be a couple of years before we hear either way (by which time I'm sure the media will have long lost interest and the story will slip most people by), but you don't have to disregard relativity for the results to be correct (which is dubious).

Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
But you're assuming the weight of the marshmallow is 7g stationary. In that case as it reaches 99.99% speed of light, it's mass will have increased (and size decreased) thus the amount of energy required to have propelled it to that speed will also have increased.


To around 200g, yes... I did correct for that :P.
 10/25/2011 06:50:07 PM · #10
never mind

Message edited by author 2011-10-25 18:50:41.
 10/25/2011 06:50:49 PM · #11
Originally posted by paulbtlw:
Originally posted by HawkinsT:
assuming it's unaffected by the atmosphere


This was the consideration that put me off even trying to work it out. Started thinking about thermal transfer and the (lack of) integrity of the marshmallow. My instincts say the OP's scenario would result in a very swift vaporisation of the marshmallow and an airborne shockwave of a fair magnitude.

No physics expertise either - so you can regard me as a charlatan.


Smores!!
 10/25/2011 06:52:31 PM · #12
Actually I think Art Roflmao's response is probably the most intelligent in this thread =).
 10/25/2011 06:56:47 PM · #13
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
never mind


Oh go on!
 10/25/2011 06:57:00 PM · #14
Originally posted by mike_311:
If a marshmallow traveled at 99.99 percent the speed of light hit the Earth, what would happen?

As a Geologist, and hence, hero of this movie, you have nothing to worry about on the condition that you're my love interest.
 10/25/2011 07:20:35 PM · #15
On a different note, earlier today I learned that marshmallows actually used to be made with real marsh mallow - and I found that out when researching green teas.... Now I find myself wanting a real marshmallow......
 10/25/2011 08:20:09 PM · #16
Originally posted by HawkinsT:
Originally posted by cloudsme:
It was reported a few weeks ago that scientists measured some neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. They have done it twice, but are waiting for independent confirmation to report it as absolutely true. If confirmed, this will punch a big hole in relativity theory. Actually it is quite exciting.


It will be a couple of years before we hear either way (by which time I'm sure the media will have long lost interest and the story will slip most people by), but you don't have to disregard relativity for the results to be correct (which is dubious).

Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
But you're assuming the weight of the marshmallow is 7g stationary. In that case as it reaches 99.99% speed of light, it's mass will have increased (and size decreased) thus the amount of energy required to have propelled it to that speed will also have increased.


To around 200g, yes... I did correct for that :P.


I would think the mass increase of fast objects would be questioned if mass can travel faster than the speed of light. Those two theories go hand in hand.
 10/25/2011 08:25:17 PM · #17
Splat
 10/25/2011 08:33:09 PM · #18
(chomp) (yum)
problem solved.
 10/25/2011 08:39:34 PM · #19
Siri was unable to provide me an acceptable answer so I don't know.
10/25/2011 08:43:46 PM · #20
Originally posted by cloudsme:
Originally posted by HawkinsT:
Originally posted by cloudsme:
It was reported a few weeks ago that scientists measured some neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. They have done it twice, but are waiting for independent confirmation to report it as absolutely true. If confirmed, this will punch a big hole in relativity theory. Actually it is quite exciting.


It will be a couple of years before we hear either way (by which time I'm sure the media will have long lost interest and the story will slip most people by), but you don't have to disregard relativity for the results to be correct (which is dubious).

Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
But you're assuming the weight of the marshmallow is 7g stationary. In that case as it reaches 99.99% speed of light, it's mass will have increased (and size decreased) thus the amount of energy required to have propelled it to that speed will also have increased.


To around 200g, yes... I did correct for that :P.


I would think the mass increase of fast objects would be questioned if mass can travel faster than the speed of light. Those two theories go hand in hand.


You're assuming (if the experiment is correct), that the neutrinos are in fact travelling the given distance (not that I really buy in to string theory), but that's one of several explanations proposed that doesn't violate relativity. You can also have objects with mass travelling faster than the speed of light without breaking relativity, which only states an object with mass can't travel at the speed of light.
 10/25/2011 08:58:57 PM · #21
Need s'more data to make an informed decision.
 10/25/2011 09:03:25 PM · #22
Originally posted by mike_311:
If a marshmallow traveled at 99.99 percent the speed of light hit the Earth, what would happen?


It would make one awesome water drop shot when it hits the hot chocolate.
 10/25/2011 09:23:02 PM · #23
yummy fallout!
 10/25/2011 09:37:37 PM · #24
Originally posted by HawkinsT:
Originally posted by cloudsme:
Originally posted by HawkinsT:
Originally posted by cloudsme:
It was reported a few weeks ago that scientists measured some neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. They have done it twice, but are waiting for independent confirmation to report it as absolutely true. If confirmed, this will punch a big hole in relativity theory. Actually it is quite exciting.


It will be a couple of years before we hear either way (by which time I'm sure the media will have long lost interest and the story will slip most people by), but you don't have to disregard relativity for the results to be correct (which is dubious).

Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
But you're assuming the weight of the marshmallow is 7g stationary. In that case as it reaches 99.99% speed of light, it's mass will have increased (and size decreased) thus the amount of energy required to have propelled it to that speed will also have increased.


To around 200g, yes... I did correct for that :P.


I would think the mass increase of fast objects would be questioned if mass can travel faster than the speed of light. Those two theories go hand in hand.


You're assuming (if the experiment is correct), that the neutrinos are in fact travelling the given distance (not that I really buy in to string theory), but that's one of several explanations proposed that doesn't violate relativity. You can also have objects with mass travelling faster than the speed of light without breaking relativity, which only states an object with mass can't travel at the speed of light.


I love all the extra dimensions of string and M-theory. Perhaps the neutrinos went through a worm hole or through a different dimension. I suppose that is possible. Maybe the Marshmallow could do it as well, and miss the earth entirely.
I don't however understand how an object of mass could travel faster than light in special relativity. It would require infinite acceleration and energy to even reach the speed of light. How could it go faster?
 10/25/2011 10:21:23 PM · #25
Originally posted by cloudsme:
I don't however understand how an object of mass could travel faster than light in special relativity. It would require infinite acceleration and energy to even reach the speed of light. How could it go faster?


What if it didn't accelerate but came into existence already travelling faster than the speed of light?
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