Tim Daughters
asked
Neil deGrasse Tyson:
I've been reading "Project Hail Mary." OK, it's science fiction, but there was a part when a character didn't know anything about relativity and was surprised that he had extra fuel at the end of his relativistic travels. That doesn't seem right. OK, there is time dilation, so the trip doesn't take as long as he thought, but doesn't his mass get bigger as he goes faster--needing more fuel to accelerate his ship?
Neil deGrasse Tyson
He will find that as he approaches the speed of light his fuel needs will grow exponentially -- we interpret that as a relativistic increase in his mass.
About the extra fuel, I'd have to do the math on this one. It may be that he wouldn't have that extra fuel for those reasons, in spite of the time dilation shortening his trip.
I've friends with Andy Weir, I'll check with him on this, to make sure he did his homework properly.
About the extra fuel, I'd have to do the math on this one. It may be that he wouldn't have that extra fuel for those reasons, in spite of the time dilation shortening his trip.
I've friends with Andy Weir, I'll check with him on this, to make sure he did his homework properly.
More Answered Questions
Lisa Munroe
asked
Neil deGrasse Tyson:
I'm curious what you'd think of microscopic aliens visiting earth? Other than bacteria or viruses catching a ride on a meteoroid to us, this idea may only be realized in the realm of science fiction. Still I think it's an interesting thought that a microscopic earth life form might have the scientific advances of another civilization shared with it while humans are too busy on their phones to realize it.
Poncio Pulido
asked
Neil deGrasse Tyson:
Science contains so many fields, and each field contains different subjects. How many basic/most common scientific fields are there. Ex: Biology for organic life, geology for natural science, math (lol) For every scientific field, they all have properties or characteristics that define them. Then, in order to develop, they need theories. What are some of your favorite OOTW scientific thesis's/developments?
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