The discussion centers on the relationship between thermal energy and rest mass in the context of relativity. Participants clarify that rest mass, defined as m = √(E² - p²), incorporates all forms of energy, including thermal energy, which means that rest mass can indeed vary with temperature. Specifically, as temperature increases, the internal energy of a body increases, leading to an increase in its rest mass, even when the object is at rest. The conversation also touches on the implications of temperature on the concept of rest mass, suggesting that it is an idealized concept that may not hold at absolute zero.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, students of relativity, and anyone interested in the interplay between thermal energy and mass in relativistic contexts.