Total energy, mass, and momentum.

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the mass, momentum, and energy of an electron moving at a speed of 0.8c, given its rest energy of 0.51 MeV. Participants are exploring the relationships between these quantities in the context of relativistic physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants question whether it is necessary to use the provided rest energy value to derive the mass, momentum, and energy. Others suggest that the rest energy is integral to the formulas being referenced.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some offering guidance on the relevance of the rest mass of the electron. There is an exploration of different approaches to the problem, but no explicit consensus has been reached regarding the necessity of the given rest energy.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of external resources that may aid in understanding the relevant formulas, and some participants note the importance of the rest mass in the context of the equations being discussed.

Jchem
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
An electron with speed 0.8c, has a rest energy of .51MeV.

What are its mass, its momentum, and its energy (including rest energy)?


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, isn't it possible to get the three answers without using the .5MeV ?

I have 3 formulas for mass, momentum and total energy that don't use the .5Mev


but then I feel like I might be doing something wrong since they gave me the value.



Im not sure how to post the forumlas, but they are on this page

http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/252/energy_p_reln.html



thanks for any help
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The rest energy is the [tex]m_0c^2[/tex] part of the formulas found on that page. Also, hyperphysics ( http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html ) is the #1 most helpful site I have found when I need to reference something. You will probably understand the formulas a little better if you look at the sections dedicated to relativistic energy there.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jchem said:
An electron with speed 0.8c, has a rest energy of .51MeV.

What are its mass, its momentum, and its energy (including rest energy)?


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, isn't it possible to get the three answers without using the .5MeV ?

I have 3 formulas for mass, momentum and total energy that don't use the .5Mev


but then I feel like I might be doing something wrong since they gave me the value.



Im not sure how to post the forumlas, but they are on this page

http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/252/energy_p_reln.html



thanks for any help

The only way to avoid using the given information is if you know the rest mass of the electron. Look at the E equation in the limit of zero velocity. What is it telling you?

OOPs too late again. It's still the right question, and now you have the answer :smile:
 
You don't need that 0.51 MeV.Just that

m_{el}~9.1*10^{-31}Kg.

Daniel.
 

Similar threads

Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Replies
21
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K