Quote:
Originally Posted by OneOfOne
At the normal speeds of current space travel, individual atoms would not create a major problem, near light speed however, even a molecule of hydrogen would pack a bit of a punch, however, it you were able to travel near light speed, you would become very small (this is a relativistic effect that would only become significant when you are within a few percent of c) and so a much smaller target.
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Length contraction is along the direction of travel, so your cross sectional area is the same. The risk of hitting a mote of dust head on is thus the same as if you were travelling at non-relativistic speeds.
Put it another way, you don't avoid collision with an object by accelerating towards it
