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Theoretically, is it possible to store huge amount of energy using a flywheel that spins at speeds that approach light speed? Can the amount of energy be higher than the mass equivalence of the wheel?

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    $\begingroup$ Related: "Blitzar", Wikipedia. $\endgroup$ – Nat Jul 13 at 23:58
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    $\begingroup$ Not unlimited, as at a certain point this hypothetical indestructible flywheel would become a black hole. $\endgroup$ – safesphere Jul 15 at 3:57
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Theoretically, it would be possible to accelerate any mass, even spin a flywheel, to near light speed. As mass increases with speed, relativistic mass could be many times the rest mass. In practice, however, with any material available today, a flywheel would tear itself to pieces long before reaching relativistic speeds.

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  • $\begingroup$ Even if you find some magical material which won't break, you have to find a way round the en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehrenfest_paradox. $\endgroup$ – alephzero Jul 13 at 23:08
  • $\begingroup$ @alephzero then your theoretical magic material would have to have elastic properties $\endgroup$ – Adrian Howard Jul 13 at 23:51

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