Relativistic Momentum Formula

The relativistic momentum refers to the maximum momentum that a body can acquire limited by speed light c which is the absolute speed limit in the universe.

Relativistic momentum = rest mass * velocity / squared root [one minus (velocity / speed of light) squared]

The equation is:

p = mv / sqrt (1 – v² / c²)

Where:

m: rest mass (invariant mass)

v: velocity of the body

c: speed of light

Relativistic Momentum Formula Questions:

1) Find the momentum of a particle which has a mass of 5.83 x 10^-27 kg that is moving at 60.0 x 10⁶ m/s

Answer:

We replace the data in the relativistic momentum equation:

p = (5.83 x 10^-27 kg)(60.0 x 10⁶ m/s) / sqrt [1 – (60.0 x 10⁶ m/s / 3.0 x 10⁸ m/s)²]

p = 3.57 x 10^-19 kg.m / s

2) Find the momentum of a 2.5 x 10⁹ kg asteroid travels at 30.0 x 10³ m/s

Answer:

We replace the data in the relativistic momentum equation:

p = (2.5 x 10⁹ kg)(30.0 x 10³ m/s) / sqrt [1 – (30.0 x 10³ m/s / 3.0 x 10⁸ m/s)²]

p = 7.5 x 10³ kg.m / s