RELATIVISTIC MOMEMTUM
• Einstein’s postulates have led to a new “relative” interpretation of such
previously absolute concepts as length and time, and that the classical
concept of absolute velocity is not valid.
• Dynamical quantities, such as momentum and kinetic energy, depend on
length, time, and velocity.
• Let’s test the conservation laws by examining the collision between two
particles.
• This collision experiment has shown that that the law of conservation of
linear momentum, with momentum defined as p = mv, does not satisfy
Einstein’s first postulate.
• if we are to retain the conservation of momentum as a general law
consistent with Einstein’s first postulate, we must find a new definition of
momentum.
SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 1
• This new definition of momentum must have two properties:
• It must yield a law of conservation of momentum that satisfies the principle of
relativity.
• At low speeds, the new definition must reduce to p = m v, which is the
nonrelativistic case.
• These requirements are satisfied by defining the relativistic momentum
for a particle of mass m moving with velocity v as
m0v
𝒑= v2
1− 2
c
m0vx m0vy
• In terms of components, 𝒑𝒙 = v 2 and 𝒑𝒚 = v2
1− 2 1− 2
c c
• Defining momentum according to this equation, gives conservation of
momentum in all reference frames, as required by the principle of
relativity.
SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 2
MASS AND ENERGY
• The work W done on an object by a constant force of magnitude F
that acts through the distance s, where F is in the same direction as s,
is given by W= F s.
• If no other forces act on the object and the object starts from rest, all
the work done on it becomes kinetic energy KE,
𝑠
• KE = 0 𝐹 𝑑𝑠
• In nonrelativistic physics, KE =1/2 mv2 and from the relativistic form
𝑠 𝑑(ꙋ𝑚0𝑣)
of the second law of motion KE = 𝑜 𝑑𝑠
𝑑𝑡
• By Integrating
m0𝑐2
𝑲𝑬 = v
2 - m0𝑐2 (Take it as an assignment)
1− c2
• Therefore, Kinetic energy KE = ꙋ m0 c2 - m0 c2 = (ꙋ -1) m0 c2
This result states that the kinetic energy of an object is equal to the
difference between ꙋmc2 and mc2 .
• Total energy is given by E= ꙋ m0 c2 = m0 c2 + KE
Therefore, E = E0 + KE
where, rest energy E0 = m0 c2 and Total energy E= ꙋ m0 c2.
KINETIC ENERGY AT LOW SPEED
• When the relative speed is small compared with c, the formula for kinetic
energy must reduce to the familiar ½ mv2 2
m 𝑐
• Kinetic energy KE = KE = ꙋ m0 c2 – m0 c2 = 0 v2 - m0𝑐2
1− c2
• Since v2/c2 << 1, we1 can use the binomial approximation (1+x)n=1+nx, valid for
|x| << 1, 2 2
2 = 1 + ½ v /c ; v<<c
v
1− c2
• Thus KE = 1 + ½ v2/c2 m0 c2 –m0 c2≈ 1/2 mv2
• At low speeds the relativistic expression for the kinetic energy of a moving
object does indeed reduce to the classical one.
• If we increase the relativistic kinetic energy of a particle without limit, and its
speed will not exceed c.(i.e., K → ∞ as v → c)
• E0 = mc2 suggests that mass can be expressed in units of energy divided by c2.
• Relationship among the total energy, momentum, and rest energy
• E =ꙋ m0 c2 ; P = ꙋ m0 v
• Square and add show that E2 = (pc)2 + (m0c2)2
E = (pc)2 + (m0c2)2
• When a particle travels at a speed close to the speed of light (say, v nearly
equals 0.99c), the particle’s kinetic energy is much greater than its rest
energy; that is, K >> E0.
then, E ≈ pc
• For massless particles (such as photons), the equation becomes exactly,
E=pc
• Therefore, all massless particles travel at the speed of light.
4. What is the momentum of a proton moving at a speed of v = 0.86c?
Solution
The units of kg ·m/s are generally not convenient in solving problems of this type. Instead, we
manipulate Eqn. to obtain
rest energy-mc2p = 1580 MeV/c
The units of MeV/c for momentum are often used in relativistic calculations
convert MeV/c to kg ·m/s and show that the two are equivalent.
5. What are the kinetic and relativistic total energies of a proton (E0 = 938 MeV) moving at a speed
of v = 0.86c?
Solution
We found the momentum of this particle to be p = 1580 MeV/c. The total energy can be found from
Eqn.
Kinetic energy K = E − E0
= 1837MeV − 938MeV
= 899MeV
6. Find the velocity and momentum of an electron (E0 = 0.511 MeV) with a kinetic energy of 10.0
MeV.
Solution
The total energy is E = K + E0= 10.0MeV + 0.511MeV = 10.51 MeV.
We then can find the momentum from
Eqn.
Note that in this problem we could have used the extreme relativistic approximation, p ∼= E/c, from
Eqn. The error we would make in this case would be only 0.1%.
The velocity can be found by solving Eqn. for v.
8. At a distance equal to the radius of the Earth’s orbit (1.5 × 1011 m), the Sun’s radiation has an intensity of
about 1.4 × 103W/m2. Find the rate at which the mass of the Sun is decreasing.
Solution
If we assume that the Sun’s radiation is distributed uniformly over the surface area 4πr2 of a sphere of radius
1.5 × 1011 m, then the total radiative power emitted by the Sun is
4π(1.5 × 1011m)2(1.4 × 103W/m2)
= 4.0 × 1026W = 4.0 × 1026 J/s
By conservation of energy, we know that the energy lost by the Sun through radiation must be accounted for
by a corresponding loss in its rest energy. The change in mass Δm corresponding to a change in rest energy
Δ E0 of 4.0 × 1026 J /second
The Sun loses mass at a rate of about 4 billion kilograms per second! If this rate were to remain constant, the
Sun (with a present mass of 2 × 1030 kg) would shine “only” for another 1013 years.
9. The discovery of the antiproton p (a particle with the same rest energy as a proton, 938 MeV,
but with the opposite electric charge) took place in 1956 through the following reaction:
p+p→p+p+p+p
in which accelerated protons were incident on a target of protons at rest in the laboratory. The
minimum incident kinetic energy needed to produce the reaction is called the threshold kinetic
energy, for which the final particles move together as if they were a single unit (Figure). Find the
threshold kinetic energy to produce antiprotons in this reaction.
(a) protons moving with equal velocity v opposite directions collide
(b) The reaction products are at rest (in CM Frame)
Solution
Apply conservation of total energy: 4 mpc2 = E’I
E’1 = E’2 = 2 mpc2
E = E0 ꙋ
v ′ 1/c = 1 − E20 / E’21 = 1 − (1/2)2 = 3/4
v′ x+u
vx = v ′ 1= c 3/4 = u (speed in the lab frame)
uv′
𝟏+ 𝐜𝟐 x
= 4/7 c 3
E = E0 / 1 − (v/c)2 = E0 / 1 − (4/7 3)2 = 7mpc2
K.E = 7mpc2-mpc2 = 6mpc2
More Questions
11. At what speed does the kinetic energy of a particle equal its rest energy?
12. Find the momentum (in MeV/C) of an electron whose speed is 0.600C?
13. Find the momentum of an electron whose kinetic energy equals its rest
energy of 511KeV.
14. Find the total energy of neutron (mo=0.940GeV/C2) whose momentum is
1.200 GeV/C.
15. The mass of a particle is triple its rest mass. What is its speed?
16. A certain particle has a lifetime of 1.00X 10-1S when measured at rest.
How far does it go before decaying if its speed is 0.99C. When it is created?
17. How much time does a meter stick moving at 0.100C relative to an
observer take to pass the observer? The meter stick is parallel to its direction
of motion.
• Nagaraja H.S.
