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Day 4 Energy General Relativity
Day 4 Energy General Relativity
, &
Space-time diagrams,
Class 4: (ThT Q)
Does Kinetic Energy still
have a meaning in
relativity?
What is rest energy?
What does E= mc2 mean?
How does the equation
come into being?
Did you complete at
least 70% of Chapter
1: 8-10 & Appendix 2
and view the assigned
MU 44: 9’15” to 14’ 30” ?
A.Yes
B.No
Energy (moving particle) E = γ mc2
Rest Energy: E0 = mc2
Kinetic Energy: K = mc2 (γ -1)
Rest Energy
Electron: mc2 = 0.511 MeV
Proton: mc2 = 938 MeV
Consider an electron and a
proton, each with a kinetic
energy of 1 MeV. Which
particle is moving at
relativistic speeds? (pp)
A. electron
B. proton Let’s do the work
Electron K = 1MeV
• Classical K = ½ mv2 v≈ 2c
• Relativity K = mc2 (γ -1)
γ = k/mc2 +1 =
1MeV/[0.511MeV+1] = 2.95
• γ = 1/√[1-v2/c2]
• v = c√[1-1/γ2] = 0.94c
Proton K = 1MeV
• K = 50 J ≈ 3 x 1020 eV
• γ = K/mc2 + 1 = 6 x 1014
• v = c√[1-1/γ 2]; γ -2 is as close to 0 as you
are likely to get, so do binomial expansion.
A. yes
B. no
Gravity disappears
• Space tells matter how
to move.
• Matter tells space how
to curve.
•John Wheeler.
• Question:
•Can the other Forces
disappear?
EXTRA CREDIT (2 pts) SIM:
Relativistic Movies
• Watch the simulations of relativistic
effects at
http://www.anu.edu.au/physics/Savage/
TEE/gallery.html
• Write a paragraph about what you
observed or learned about
relativistic effects while watching
these movies. You can select a
single movie to discuss or use
example from multiple movies to
describe what you observed.
1
v2
1
c2
Relativity
• F = dp/dt
• p = γmv = relativistic momentum
conserved in collisions
• γ = 1/√[1-v2/c2]
• v«c γ ≈ 1 p = mv
•vcγ∞p∞