Effect of Relativity on Gravitation

Davide (from Australia) Asks: I wonder, If we take atoms travelling with speeds close to that of light, there will be an increase in mass (according to the theory of relativity).  As the mass increases, the gravitational force should also increase.  Will this increase in gravity affect the surrounding space? If an atoms travels with 99% the speed of light, what will be its increase in mass?

(The question was reformatted to suit the language)

Answer: I must congratulate you first for thinking deep and differently. The relativistic increase in mass is given by the equation The increase in mass increases the gravity, but the force of gravity is governed by the value of the universal constant of gravitaton, which is very low (6.67 x 10^-11). For the second part of your question, the increase in mass can be calculated to be about 7 times from the equation mentioned above.

(Please post your further doubts on this topic as comment to this post so that all related ideas come together.)