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Can you elaborate? How is E=mc^2 an approximation, in special relativity or otherwise? What is it an approximation of?
by amluto 2y ago
Can you elaborate? How is E=mc^2 an approximation, in special relativity or otherwise? What is it an approximation of?
- whimsicalism 2y agoE^2 = m^2 + p^2 where p is momentum and i’ve dropped unit adjustment factors like c this allows light to have energy even if its massless
- ac29 2y agoe=mc^2 is only correct for objects at rest. The full equation takes into account velocity, but for "low" speeds where v<<c, the term is close enough to zero than E=mc^2 is still a good approximation.
- ijustlovemath 2y agoE^2 = (mc^2)^2 + (pc)^2, where p is momentum. When an object is traveling at relativistic speeds, the momentum forms a more significant portion of its energy