lightspeed

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by goku

reality?
maybe i dumded it down a little too much
my reality says one doesn't just start increaseing mass

Neither does mine, unfortunately our reality changes drastically as the speed of light is approached. This can be proved in particle accelerators. Charged particles are much easier to accelerate than people or space ships and when they approach the speed of light all the changes that have been described to you in this thread take place. They become more massive, harder to accelerate and shorter along the direction of acceleration and time slows down for them.

i reckon if the particles of your thrust (exhuast gasses, or what ever) do not travel at or beyond light speed you may not acheive light speed

Actually the acceleration does not depend on the speed of your exhaust, acceleration is cumulative, You can go faster then your exhaust. The effects of trying to go to or faster than the speed of light are indeed real.

has anyone ever actually tried to go light speed?

Our civilization does not have the power out put necessary to approach the speed of light as individuals or space craft but as I pointed out we have and can routinely accelerate charged particles to speeds near the the speed of light and the effects I have described do take place. There are also the effects pointed out by DI5STURBED

Originally Posted by DI5STURBED

A useful tool, I've found:
Perihelion precession of Mercury
Deflection of light by the Sun
Gravitational redshift of light
Post-Newtonian tests of gravity
Gravitational lensing
Light travel time delay testing
Gravitational redshift
Frame dragging tests
Gavity Probe B
(and many more)