Rest Energy - Kinetic Energy

[orangepeelsnice]

We are giving a particle with mass 400 Mev/C² and 200 MeV KE.

What is the Energy of the particle?

Is it 600 MeV or 200 MeV?

 

[PeterDonis]

What is the Energy of the particle?

Consider what you would have to do to the particle, starting from rest (i.e., total energy equal to its rest energy of 400 MeV), to give it 200 MeV of kinetic energy. You would have to set it in motion. Would that be adding energy to the particle, or taking energy away from it?

 

[orangepeelsnice]

the obvious answer is to say it the E = E_o+KE = 600 MeV, just making sure

 

[PeterDonis]

the obvious answer is to say it the E = Eo+KE = 600 MeV

Yes.