Lecture #19,20
Content to be covered
Velocity Addition
Relativity of Mass
Relation Between Mass and Energy
Relation Between Momentum and Energy
Massless Particle
Resources to be consulted
Concepts of Modern Physics by Arthur Beiser
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Velocity Addition
Let us consider, something is moving along X-axis relative to both S
(rest) and S’ with U and U’. While S’ frame is moving with velocity v.
An observer in S measures three component of velocity to be
• To an observer in S they are
dx dy dz
Ux , Uy , Uz Y
dt dt dt Y’
S
U’
• To an observer in S’ they are U
dx dy dz X
U 'x , U 'y , U 'z
dt dt dt X’
Z
vx Z’ v
t
x
x vt
, y y, z z, t c2 S’
v2 v2
1 1
c2 c2
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• By differentiating the Lorentz transform equations for x’, y’, z’
and t’, we obtain
vdx
dx vdt dt
dx , d y dy , d z dz , d t c 2
v 2 v 2
1 1
c 2 c 2
• Now we can write,
dx
V
dx dx Vdt dt U x V
U 'x
dt dt Vdx 1 V dx 1 VU x
c2 c 2 dt c2
• This is relativistic velocity transformation equation. Its Inverse
transforma on equa on (v → -v) is
U 'x V
U
x
VU x
1
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• By applying the same technique we can obtain
transformation for Uy and Uz as
V 2 dy V 2 V 2
dy 1 2 1 2 U y 1 2
dy c dt c c
Uy
dt Vdx
1 2
V dx
1 2 1
VU x
c c dt c2
Simiarly ,
V 2
U z 1 2
c
Uz
VU x
1
c2
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Example
• Let U`x=c, means if a ray of light is emitted in the moving
reference frame S’ in the opposite direction of motion relative to
S, an observer in frame S will measure the velocity
U ' V c V c(c V ) Y
Ux x c Y’
VU x Vc (c V ) S
1 2 1
c c2
X
• Let v = c, again Ux = c.
Z cX’
Z’
• Let U`x = v = c, again Ux = c.
S’ v
Hence, it is impossible to exceed the speed of light beyond c and c is the
upper limit of velocity of any particle.
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Relativity of Mass
According to Newtonian mechanics the mass of a
body is unaffected with change in velocity.
But space and time change……..
Therefore “mass” of a body is no longer be
unaffected.
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Relativity of Mass
mo Mass at rest.
Relativistic mass m
1 v 2
/ c 2
Rest mass is least m0 c 2
Total Energy E mc
2
1 v2 / c2
Rest mass energy or Potential energy m0 c 2
A stationary body explodes into two fragments each of mass 1 kg that
move apart at speeds of 0.6c relative to the original body. Find the
mass of the original body. Ans.: 2.5kg.
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Relation Between Mass and Energy
Kinetic energy (T) of a moving body can be defined as the work
done in bringing it from rest to its state of motion. That is:
s
T F ds …..(1)
0
Where, F is the component of the applied force in the direction of
the displacement ds and s is the distance over which the force acts.
Using the relativistic form of the second law of motion.
d (mv)
F …..(2)
dt
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Relation Between Mass and Energy
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Relation Between Mass and Energy
Kinetic Energy = Total Energy - Rest mass Energy
m0 c 2
K m0 c 2 mc 2 m0 c 2
1 v2 / c2
This equation states that the kinetic energy of a body is equal to the increase in its mass,
resulting from its relative motion, multiplied by the square of the speed of the light.
Therefore, mc 2 Ek m0 c 2
If we interpret mc2 as the total energy E of the body, it follows that, when the body is at
rest and Ek=0, it possesses the energy E0=m0c2 (rest energy or rest mass energy).
Limiting Case: When v << c 1
Show that K .E m0 v 2
2
K.E. tends to infinity. to accelerate the particle to the
Limiting Case: When v c speed of light infinite amount of work would be needed
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