Theory of special relativity graph
Homework Statement
In the theory of special relativity, mass of a particle is
[itex]m = \frac{m_{0}}{\sqrt{1-v^{2}/c^{2}}}[/itex]
m is the mass when the particle moves at v relative to the observer, and m0 is the rest mass.
Sketch the graph of m with respect to v. 2. Homework Equations
[itex]m = \frac{m_{0}}{\sqrt{1-v^{2}/c^{2}}}[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
In order to sketch the graph, I had to first (before finding the derivative and second derivative):
- Define the domain
- Find the x and y intercepts
- Find where there would be asymptotes (both vertical and horizontal)
- Check for symmetry
DOMAIN
When the x-axis is the velocity of a particle, the domain is 0 [itex]\leq x[/itex][itex]\leq c[/itex]
INTERCEPTS
[itex]f(x) = y = m[/itex]
[itex]x = v[/itex]
therefore,
[itex]f(x) = \frac{m_{0}}{\sqrt{1-x^{2}/c^{2}}}[/itex]
I didn't find any x-intercepts
Found a y-intercept at [itex]y = m_{0}[/itex]
ASYMPTOTES
since domain has been restricted to be between 0 and C, there is no horizontal asymptote.
Vertical asymptote:
Took the just the denominator and made it = to zero, got v=c. Since v is x. It is [itex]x = c[/itex], the vertical asymptote. SYMMETRY
There is Even symmetry, [itex]f(x) = f(-x)[/itex]
Ok, so now the 1st and 2nd derivatives
1st derivative
[itex]m^{\prime} = \frac{-mv}{c^{2}-v^{2}}[/itex]
x-intercept at 0, therefore there is an interval of increase between 0 and c.
2nd derivative
[itex]m^{\prime \prime} = \frac{-(m + v) + 2m^{\prime}v}{c^{2} - v^{2}}[/itex]
Here is when i am really stuck, how do we find the zeros for the second derivative?
BTW, pic of question and answer is attached. (number 53)