NationStates Jolt Archive

...that its molecules move at the speed of light?

Provided that the molecules do not end up dispersing...

Would the object visually disappear...?

A) I don't really think it would still be a solid if the molecules have so much energy. Heck, I don't even think there will be molecules around.

B) No (not under the model we understand.) You would need infinite energy to accomplish this, so it is not possible to heat it up enough for this to happen.

hmm im thinking that the atmos would have shaken themselves apart before it reached that speed. Im also thinking that the sun could be an example.

A) I don't really think it would still be a solid if the molecules have so much energy. Heck, I don't even think there will be molecules around.

B) No (not under the model we understand.) You would need infinite energy to accomplish this, so it is not possible to heat it up enough for this to happen.

Well, let's say it was something like an "ideal solid." (If there's official ideal solid rules, then I guess AP Chemistry hasn't gone over them yet...). And that the molecules cannot overcome intermolecular forces.

based on my (admitedly poor) knowledge of physics that would require infinite energy, and the atoms would decay long before that anyway.

Oh, one thing to note is, that you will definitely produce particles that move at the speed of light (which is, just below the theoretical maximum speed of light for the environment) by (if I remember right) knocking electrons out to higher states of energy, when they settle back into lower energy states, they'll produce photons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_temperature

...that its molecules move at the speed of light?

Provided that the molecules do not end up dispersing...

Would the object visually disappear...?

Any known, and probably any conceivable, molecule would long since have dissociated before reaching such a temperature.

Relativistic effects arise in some electron shells in ultraheavy elements IIRC (e.g., transactinides), but molecules/atoms themselves won't reach light speed.

Oh, one thing to note is, that you will definitely produce particles that move at the speed of light (which is, just below the theoretical maximum speed of light for the environment) by (if I remember right) knocking electrons out to higher states of energy, when they settle back into lower energy states, they'll produce photons.

Potons aren't exactly...Well, I guess they sort of are particles, but...

No.

Well, let's say it was something like an "ideal solid." (If there's official ideal solid rules, then I guess AP Chemistry hasn't gone over them yet...). And that the molecules cannot overcome intermolecular forces.

Would you define what you mean by an ideal solid? A list of critera would be interesting.

Potons aren't exactly...Well, I guess they sort of are particles, but...

They have mass and velocity. They are particles. Are you meaning to point out that light can behave as a wave, and that they really should be considered particle-waves?

No, you can't heat up a solid to that sort of temperature. For various reasons which have really already been pointed out. Basically, you'd need infinite energy to accelerate the particles to the speed of light and that just ain't happening.

Would you define what you mean by an ideal solid? A list of critera would be interesting.



They have mass and velocity. They are particles. Are you meaning to point out that light can behave as a wave, and that they really should be considered particle-waves?

Eh...they sorta have mass...sometimes.