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html Relativistic linear momentum and the Relativistic form of Newtons laws First, recall that the law of conservation of linear momentum states that when two isolated objects collide, their combined total momentum remains constant. Suppose that the collision is described in a reference frame S in which linear momentum is conserved. If we calculate the velocities in a second reference frame S` using the Lorentz velocity transformation equation and the classical denition of linear momentum,P = mu (where u is the velocity of either object), we nd that linear momentum is not conserved in S` . However, because the laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames, linear momentum must be conserved in all frames. In view of this condition and assuming that the Lorentz velocity transformation equation is correct, we must modify the denition of linear momentum to satisfy the following conditions: 1. Linear momentum p must be conserved in all collisions. 2. The relativistic value calculated for p must approach the classical value mu as u approaches zero. For any particle, the correct relativistic equation for linear momentum that satises these conditions is p = mu /1 - u2/c 2 = mu where u is the velocity of the particle and m is

the mass of the particle. When u is much less than c, = /1 - u2/c 2 approaches unity and p approaches mu. Therefore, the relativistic equation for p does indeed reduce to the classical expression when u is much smaller than c. The relativistic force F acting on a particle whose linear momentum is p is dened as F = dp/dt This expression, which is the relativistic form of Newtons second law, is reasonable because it preserves classical mechanics in the limit of low velocities and requires conservation of linear momentum for an isolated system both relativistically and classically. RELATIVISTIC ENERGY We have seen that the denition of linear momentum and the laws of motion require generalization to make them compatible with the principle of relativity. This implies that the denition of kinetic energy must also be modied. To derive the relativistic form of the workkinetic energy theorem, let us rst use the denition of relativistic force. To determine the work done on a particle by a force F W =x1x2 F dx = x1x2 dp/dt dx for force and motion both directed along the x axis. In order to perform this integration and nd the work done on the particle and the relativistic kinetic energy as a function of u we can easily proof that w = mc2 / 1 - u2/c 2 - mc2 = mc2 - mc2 Remember that that the work done by a force acting on a particle equals the change in kinetic energy of the particle. Because of our assumption that the initial speed of the particle is zero, we know that the initial kinetic energy is zero. We therefore conclude that the work W is equivalent to the relativistic kinetic energy K: K = mc2 - mc2 . This equation is routinely conrmed by experiments using high-energy particle accelerators. The constant term mc2, which is independent of the speed of the particle, is called the rest energy ER of

the particle. The term mc2, which does depend on the particle speed, is therefore the sum of the kinetic and rest energies. We dene mc2 to be the total energy E: Total energy = kinetic energy + rest energy E = mc2 = K + mc2, so E = mc2 / 1 - u2/c 2 This is Einsteins famous equation about massenergy equivalence. The relationship E = K + mc2 shows that mass is a form of energy, where c2 in the rest energy term is just a constant conversion factor. This expression also shows that a small mass corresponds to an enormous amount of energy, a concept fundamental to nuclear and elementary-particle physics. Coming up : EQUIVALENCE OF MASS AND ENERGY Thanks For Making This Possible! Kindly Bookmark and Share it. Powered by Blogger.

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