# Homework Help: The non-relativistic behavior of particles

1. Apr 24, 2010

### FRANCLI

hello
When I was studing about the schrodinger equation,I read that it describes the non-relativistic behavior of particles .
But I don't know what is the non-relativistic behavior of particles . S o I need somebody to explain this behavior .

2. Apr 24, 2010

### tiny-tim

Hi FRANCLI!

It means that we can define momentum = mv and energy = 1/2 mv2.

(relativistic behavior of particles is more accurate, and defines momentum = mv/√(1 - v2/c2) and energy = m/√(1 - v2/c2), which are approximately the same as the non-relativistic definitions when v is very much smaller than c )

Last edited: Apr 24, 2010
3. Apr 24, 2010

### FRANCLI

thank you ,
but if the energy is = 1/√(1 - v2/c2), and v is very much smaller than c , the enegy will be 1 ??????

4. Apr 24, 2010

### tiny-tim

oops!

oops! … i missed out the "m"

it should have been energy = m/√(1 - v2/c2)

(or KE = m/√(1 - v2/c2) - m, which is approximately 1/2 mv2 when v is very small)

(i've edited my last post, so it's correct now )

5. Apr 24, 2010

OK, thanks .