Was Einstein's Original Formula for Transverse Mass Incorrect?

Sep 22, 2003

quartodeciman

Something suddenly sticks out. Einstein DID know the Lorentz 1904 paper after all. The reason is notation.

Up until at least 1900, Lorentz used the letter "γ" to represent the transformation factor, following Voldemar Voigt (1887), the first researcher to consider transformations involving functions of v/c. During the early 1900s, Lorentz was publishing work about electron theory and, specifically,calculating the electron mass. In this research, he was running against the theory of Max Abraham, and the letter "β" was used to represent v/c there. I doubt Lorentz would have reused "β" to also represent the transformation factor in his electrodynamics at that time. It is (apparently) not until the Lorentz 1904 paper that "β" suddenly started getting used (don't know why) for the transformation factor, rather than "γ". Einstein used "β" the same way in his first relativity paper (1905). That is a big coincidence, if Einstein didn't know Lorentz's 1904 paper.

Miller {AESTOR,Addison-Wesley(1981)} states (section 1.15.1) that Einstein "maybe" knew this paper of Lorentz.

2. How is mass different from weight?

Mass and weight are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two different concepts. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, while weight is a measure of the force of gravity acting on an object. Mass is constant, while weight can vary depending on the strength of the gravitational pull.

3. Why is mass considered a fundamental property of matter?

Mass is considered a fundamental property of matter because it is a characteristic that all matter possesses. It cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or converted into other forms of energy. It is also a fundamental property because it is independent of external factors such as temperature, pressure, or location.

4. How is mass measured and what are the units used?

Mass is typically measured using a balance or scale. The most commonly used unit for mass in the SI system is the kilogram (kg), which is defined as the mass of a specific platinum-iridium alloy cylinder kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in France. Other units of mass include grams (g) and metric tons (t).

5. Can mass be changed or manipulated?

Mass is a fundamental property of matter and cannot be changed or manipulated. However, it can be converted into other forms of energy through processes such as nuclear reactions or chemical reactions. In everyday situations, mass remains constant unless matter is added or removed from an object.