- #1
Vincentius
- 78
- 1
By SR, relativistic energy and mass are proportional to the Lorentz factor γ, therefore, grow to infinity for v[itex]\rightarrow[/itex]c. This relationship for the relativistic mass has been confirmed by the Kaufmann experiment and its successors, via measuring the deflection of high velocity electrons by an electric and/or magnetic field.
My question is: is this really unambiguous proof of energy/mass increase? Or, could as well the effective electric (and/or magnetic) deflection force on the electron go to zero for v[itex]\rightarrow[/itex]c, such that the inertial mass (and energy) only appears to increase?
My question is: is this really unambiguous proof of energy/mass increase? Or, could as well the effective electric (and/or magnetic) deflection force on the electron go to zero for v[itex]\rightarrow[/itex]c, such that the inertial mass (and energy) only appears to increase?