Physics: relativistic mass

Tutoring physics, relativity may arise. The tutor mentions its application to mass.

Einstein postulated, in his Special Theory of Relativity, that effective mass increases as velocity does, according to

m=mo(1-v2/c2)-0.5

where mo is the rest mass, while c is the speed of light.

The rest mass of an electron is 9.11×10-31kg. If travelling at 80.0% the speed of light, or 0.800c, the electron’s mass will be

m=9.11×10-31(1-(0.800c)2/c2)-0.5

which gives

m=1.52×10-30kg

or 1.67 times its rest mass.

Source:

Giancoli, Douglas C. Physics, 5th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998.

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.

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