Elementary derivation of the expressions of momentum and energy in special relativity
The derivation of the expressions of momentum and energy of a particle in special relativity is often less than satisfactory in elementary texts. In some, it is obtained by resorting to quantum or electrodynamic considerations, in others by introducing non-elementary concepts, like that of a four-vector, or even misleading ones, like “relativistic mass”. Nevertheless it is possible, following ideas described by Einstein in 1935, to obtain a fully elementary derivation of these expressions based only on the Lorentz transformations, on the conservation laws, and on the Newtonian limit. The resulting argument allows for a clearer and logically consistent introduction to the basic concepts of relativistic dynamics.
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | English |
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Sociedade Brasileira de Física
2016
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| Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1806-11172016000200412 |
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