Describe the consequences and applications of relativistic momentum
Classical momentum :
Relativistic momentum =
where mo is the rest mass of the object
- This also shows that mass is relative and depends on the relative velocity of the observer.
- relativistic mass :
- relativistic mass :
- In particle accelerators , where speed of particles cross 0.1c, the predictions made by Newtonian mechanics and Relativistic mechanics are significantly different.
- Relativistic momentum gives a much more accurate prediction in terms of force, energy and other attributes at such large speed.
As velocity increases, the value of 
increases :
- Thus mass increases with velocity, increasing inertia
- Thus the force required to increase velocity increases with velocity.
- Thus mass increases towards an infinite value
- Interia increases towards an infinite value.
- Thus maximum theoretical speed limit for any object with rest mass (mo) > 0 is c.
Extract from Physics Stage 6 Syllabus © 2017 NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)