Maybe relativistic mass is linear rather than exponential in DBZ.
That immediately throws relativity as a self-consistent set of physical laws out the window, to the point where there's no compelling reason to stick to "relativity" as a concept.
For that matter, (math man hat on) relativistic mass
isn't exponential, the equation has a square root sign and a 'squared' and a minus sign in it, but no exponential of the form "number to the power of x." It increases much more slowly than an exponential function for low speeds, and much
faster than an exponential for speeds approaching c.
But I know you mean 'exponential' as a poetic metaphor for 'gets big fast,' not a literal statement, so:
...
Basically, relativity is
specifically a mathematical concept of two underlying assumptions:
1) That the observed speed of light, c, is a universal concept everywhere. No only is it impossible for you to outrun a beam of light, you can't make a beam of light 'seem' to move faster by approaching it head-on, the way that traffic in the opposing lanes of a freeway seems to be moving at 200 km/h relative to you. Nor can you make it seem to slow down by moving in the same direction it does, the way that the car in front of you on the highway appears not to be moving at all. EVERYONE, no matter which way they are traveling or at what speed, observes light to move at the same constant velocity.
2) There is no single vantage point to perceive the universe in which you get a metaphysically 'correct' view of the universe that is more 'accurate' than in any other view. There is no single place from which you can observe the cosmos where everything is inherently 'truly' right,
...
(1) requires that the laws of time and space be subject to
distortion. If light moves at a constant speed, the perceived, observed speeds of
everything else has to be negotiable; there can be no normal, fixed conception of distance or time. This is a seemingly absurd consequence, one with preposterous implications for the nature of reality. The only reason to believe such an intuitively ridiculous notion is because it is, experimentally, true.
(2) means that the laws of time and space must be
symmetrical, in that we can't mandate that we start our calculations by saying something like "well, the observer who is REALLY at rest observes ABC, so that is what is "really" going on." This is where the 'relative' part of 'relativity' comes from, in that there is no objective difference between 'moving' and 'not moving.' Only 'objects move relative to one another.'
...
Both assumptions can potentially be false in
Dragonball.
We have no compelling reason to believe that light in
Dragonball is observed to travel at a fixed velocity by all observers. For all we know, the speed of light in
Dragonball is "infinity," with light rays simply moving instantly from one place to another. Or it is merely "very very large," with light waves propagating so fast that they outpace even hellafast spacecraft, with the only way to outrun it being literal teleportation.
And we have every reason to assume that there is a
metaphysically relevant privileged frame of reference in which all events can be observed to be "objectively" happening, because the universe was created by, and is sustained by, a small handful of beings who enjoy unique status that is relevant on some metaphysical level. Presumably, whatever location they like to camp out in, has special status that other places don't.
