4 ms·

Every square meter of a space ship passing through this at the speed of light would interact with ~3e13 hydrogen atoms per second. I don't know if I did this c

by jcims 2y ago

Every square meter of a space ship passing through this at the speed of light would interact with ~3e13 hydrogen atoms per second. I don't know if I did this correctly but that's only ~27kJ per second of mass energy. I thought it would be a lot more.

dylan604 2y ago
> I thought it would be a lot more. Yet another example of just how big space is, and how empty atoms are
- jcims 2y ago
  Every time i even remotely have the illusion of understanding it gets upended. I think that’s why i like it so much
EnigmaFlare 2y ago
In the space-ship's frame, it would be a lot more.
- SJC_Hacker 2y ago
  If it was the speed of light, it would be infinite mass-energy. Which is why you normally talk of "x% of the speed of light", e.g. 99% of the speed of light.