Electrons can indeed achieve speeds close to the speed of light without being destroyed due to their large charge. This behavior is explained by the principles of special relativity, which govern the behavior of objects moving at high speeds.
According to special relativity, as an object with mass approaches the speed of light, its energy and momentum increase significantly. As an electron accelerates, its kinetic energy increases, and so does its momentum. However, the increase in energy and momentum does not result in the destruction of the electron.
Instead, special relativity introduces the concept of relativistic mass. As an object's speed increases, its relativistic mass also increases. The relativistic mass takes into account the increased energy of the object, which contributes to its inertia. The higher relativistic mass effectively makes it harder to accelerate the electron further.
At speeds close to the speed of light, the relativistic mass of the electron becomes significantly larger than its rest mass (the mass of the electron at rest). This increased mass provides the electron with a greater resistance to further acceleration, which helps prevent its destruction.
Moreover, the electromagnetic force plays a role in preserving the integrity of the electron. Electrons are surrounded by an electric field generated by their charge. This electric field interacts with the magnetic field in their vicinity, creating a force known as the Lorentz force. This force acts perpendicular to the electron's velocity and keeps it in a curved path, preventing it from being destroyed or moving in a straight line.
In particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), extremely high electromagnetic fields are used to accelerate electrons or other charged particles. The design of these accelerators takes into account the effects of relativity and the electromagnetic forces to ensure that the particles can reach high speeds without being destroyed.
In summary, the principles of special relativity, the concept of relativistic mass, and the interplay of electromagnetic forces allow electrons to achieve speeds close to the speed of light without being destroyed despite their large charge.