- #1
Nikitin
- 735
- 27
I'm very noob at this and am a bit confused:
Formula 1: [itex] E_T = \gamma \cdot m c^2 [/itex]
Formula 2: [itex] p = \gamma m v[/itex]
Formula 3: [itex] E_T^2 = (pc)^2 + (mc^2)^2[/itex]
Formula 3 says a particle of negligible mass can have energy, but isn't this in contradiction to
formula 1? Unless maybe the velocity of the particle is c, such that ##\gamma## becomes infinite too?
So if I get an assignment where I'm supposed to neglect the mass of a moving particle, I must either neglect its total energy or set its velocity to c in my calculations?
For instance, let's say I need to calculate on myon decay: ##\pi_+ \rightarrow \mu_+ + \nu##. Do I have to set the velocity of the myon-neutrino to c? But why can't I just neglect the energy of the neutrino?
Formula 1: [itex] E_T = \gamma \cdot m c^2 [/itex]
Formula 2: [itex] p = \gamma m v[/itex]
Formula 3: [itex] E_T^2 = (pc)^2 + (mc^2)^2[/itex]
Formula 3 says a particle of negligible mass can have energy, but isn't this in contradiction to
formula 1? Unless maybe the velocity of the particle is c, such that ##\gamma## becomes infinite too?
So if I get an assignment where I'm supposed to neglect the mass of a moving particle, I must either neglect its total energy or set its velocity to c in my calculations?
For instance, let's say I need to calculate on myon decay: ##\pi_+ \rightarrow \mu_+ + \nu##. Do I have to set the velocity of the myon-neutrino to c? But why can't I just neglect the energy of the neutrino?