- #1
Aaron121
- 15
- 1
Is the mass that appears in E=mc2 the rest mass m0, or the relativistic mass γm0?
I would actually say neither. The big revelation of that equation (as originally conceived) is that the rest energy of an object is equal to the inertia at low velocities (multiplied by ##c^2##). As such, ##m## would be the inertial mass from the limit of classical mechanics. This is now so ingrained into the nomenclature that we refer to the rest energy simply as "the mass" (modulo the multiplication by ##c^2##, but we normally work in units where ##c = 1##).Aaron121 said:Is the mass that appears in E=mc2 the rest mass m0, or the relativistic mass γm0?
E=mc^2 is the famous equation discovered by Albert Einstein that relates energy (E) to mass (m) and the speed of light (c). It states that the energy of an object is equal to its mass multiplied by the speed of light squared.
Rest mass (m0) is the mass of an object when it is at rest, meaning it is not moving. Relativistic mass (γm0) is the mass of an object when it is in motion, taking into account the effects of special relativity.
Rest mass and relativistic mass are related by the Lorentz factor (γ), which is a function of an object's velocity. As an object's velocity increases, its relativistic mass also increases, while its rest mass remains constant.
No, rest mass and relativistic mass are not the same. Rest mass is an intrinsic property of an object and does not change regardless of its velocity. Relativistic mass, on the other hand, is dependent on an object's velocity and will increase as the object approaches the speed of light.
E=mc^2 has many practical applications, including in nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. It also plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of particles at high speeds, such as those in particle accelerators. Additionally, it is used in the development of technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans and nuclear medicine treatments.