If the velocity of your spaceship goes from 0.3 c to 0.6 c, then your mass will increase by
A)19%.
B)38%.
C)74%.
D)100%.
E)200%.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A because the mass of an object increases as its velocity approaches the speed of light. The formula for relativistic mass is m = m0 / sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2), where m0 is the rest mass, v is the velocity, and c is the speed of light. Plugging in the values given in the question, we get m = m0 / sqrt(1 - 0.6^2/c^2) = 1.25m0. Therefore, the mass of the spaceship increases by 25%, which is closest to choice A, 19%.

If the Velocity of Your Spaceship Goes from 0