Is there mass without momentum?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of mass, particularly "rest mass," which is now more accurately referred to as "invariant mass." Participants highlight that rest mass is relative and cannot be definitively measured without context. The relationship between mass and momentum is explored, emphasizing that mass increases with velocity, which leads to the equation E^2 = (m_0 c^2)^2 + (pc)^2 for calculating invariant mass from momentum and energy. This reflects a modern understanding of mass-energy equivalence in physics.

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  • Understanding of mass-energy equivalence
  • Familiarity with the concepts of momentum and energy
  • Knowledge of the equation E^2 = (m_0 c^2)^2 + (pc)^2
  • Basic principles of relativistic physics
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  • Research the implications of invariant mass in particle physics
  • Study the relationship between velocity and mass in relativistic contexts
  • Explore the historical evolution of mass definitions in physics
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Students of physics, researchers in relativistic mechanics, and anyone interested in the fundamental principles of mass and energy in the universe.

azabak
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There's something called "rest mass" that is the mass of a body in "rest". But since rest is relative it is impossible to surely know something's mass. We also know that mass increses with velocity, so it seems possible that mass is nothing but a "shaded" speed in a certain referential.
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In my bathroom I am at rest relative to myself and the scale. I thought there was a different way of looking at it that didn't require relative mass per se, but an understanding of mass-energy, objects don't get harder to accelerate due to increased mass if you say F = (mass-energy) * acceleration, then it is due to increased energy?
 
azabak said:
There's something called "rest mass" that is the mass of a body in "rest". But since rest is relative it is impossible to surely know something's mass.

The name "rest mass" is a historical artifact and can be rather misleading. Physicists nowadays prefer to use the name "invariant mass." It can always be calculated from an object's momentum and energy using

[tex]E^2 = (m_0 c^2)^2 + (pc)^2[/tex]

i.e.

[tex]m_0 c^2 = \sqrt{E^2 - (pc)^2}[/tex]
 

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