How much work W must be done on a particle with a mass of m to accelerate it from a speed of 0.905c to a speed of 0.980c?

Ok I know that you compute the Lorenz factor gamma but my question is what value would you use for the v? And do you minus anything from it after that?

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Subtract the particle energy at 0.905c from the (higher) energy at 0.980c.

They have already told you the v's. When you divide by c in the Lorentz-factor, you will get v/c values of 0.980 and 0.905.

The energy at speeed v is

m c^2 / sqrt[1 - (v/c)^2]

That includes the rest-mass energy.
answered by drwls
April 4, 2009

How much work W must be done on a particle with a mass of m to accelerate it from a speed of 0.905c to a speed of 0.980c?

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