Special Relativity- momentum and energy

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the application of special relativity to calculate the kinetic energy, relativistic momentum, and mass of an electron accelerated to a total energy of 40 GeV. The calculations confirm that the fraction of total energy that is kinetic energy is approximately 0.99999, and the relativistic mass is calculated to be 40 GeV/c². Additionally, the discussion explores a collision scenario involving two particles of rest mass m, leading to a composite particle with a total energy of 3mc² and a rest mass of mc²√6.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity concepts, including energy-momentum relations.
  • Familiarity with relativistic mass and the Lorentz factor (gamma).
  • Knowledge of energy conservation in particle collisions.
  • Basic proficiency in algebra and unit conversions in physics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and implications of the Lorentz factor (gamma) in special relativity.
  • Learn about energy-momentum conservation in particle physics collisions.
  • Explore the concept of relativistic mass versus invariant mass in detail.
  • Investigate applications of linear accelerators in particle physics experiments.
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Physics students, particle physicists, and educators seeking to deepen their understanding of special relativity, particularly in the context of high-energy particle interactions and collisions.

C.E
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1. a. An electron of rest mass (0.511Mev) is accelerated in a linear accelerator so it has a total energy of 40 Gev.
i).What fraction of the total energy is kinetic energy?
ii).what is the reletivistic linear momentum of the electron?
iii).What is its relativistic mass?
b.A particle of rest mass m travels so that its total energy is twice its rest mass energy. It collides with a particle of rest mass m and forms a composite particle.
i). What is the momentum of each of the initial particles?
ii).What is the momentum of the new particle produced in the collision.
iii).What is the rest mass of the new particle

3. Here is my attempt at part a, there are a few things I am unsure on firstly, in answering this question I have assumed potential energy is negligeable, i.e. there is only kinetic and rest mass energy, is that ok? Secondly I am a bit worried by the fact I keep getting 40 as an answer and finally, I was unsure on units, what are the units of gamma?

a. (i). (40 x 10^9 - 0.511 x 10^6)/40 x 10^9 =0.99999.
ii) E^2=p^2c^2 +m^2c^4

so p=40Gev/c

iii).E=gmc^2 where g is gamma.
Therefore g= (40x 10^9)/ 0.511 x 10^6) =78278.
Hence relativistic mass= 78278 x 0.511 x 10^-3= 40 Gev/c^2.

Here is part b.
b. (i). stationary particle: 0.
moving particle:mc^2sqrt(3) using the same equation as in aii.
(ii) sqrt(3)mc^2 by conservation laws.
(iii)Total energy mc^2 + 2mc^2 =3mc^2
rest energy=sqrt(total energy^2-(momentumxc)^2)
=sqrt(6m^2c^4)=mc^2sqrt(6)

Have I done this question right?
 
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Hi C.E! :smile:

(what happened to that γ I gave you before? :wink:)
C.E said:
1. a. An electron of rest mass (0.511Mev) is accelerated in a linear accelerator so it has a total energy of 40 Gev.
i).What fraction of the total energy is kinetic energy?

Here is my attempt at part a, there are a few things I am unsure on firstly, in answering this question I have assumed potential energy is negligeable, i.e. there is only kinetic and rest mass energy, is that ok? Secondly I am a bit worried by the fact I keep getting 40 as an answer and finally, I was unsure on units, what are the units of gamma?

a. (i). (40 x 10^9 - 0.511 x 10^6)/40 x 10^9 =0.99999.

Nope … start again …

if energy/rest-mass = 40G/.511M, what is γ? :smile:

(and yes, there is only kinetic and rest mass energy)
 
Sorry the 0.511Mev is rest mass energy, (not rest mass), doesa that make a difference to your last post?
 
C.E said:
Sorry the 0.511Mev is rest mass energy, (not rest mass), doesa that make a difference to your last post?

Nooo … that was obvious from the question.
 
Ok, here is my new attempt (finding gamma first)
Energy= gamma x rest energy
Hence gamma=78278
Kinetic energy= (gamma -1) x rest mass energy = 78277
Giving: kinetic energy / total energy = 78277/78278 =0.99999.
I still get the same answer, what is wrong with the above?
 

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