We spent an entire semester talking about Newtonian mechanics(F=ma, KE=1/2 mv2) so that knowledge must be important. The truthis that those equations are almost precisely correct except for thefastest particles. Let's see if we can find out how fast somethingmust be going for those approximations to be off by a signficantamount. Assume we have a object with a mass of mo = 1gram.
1) What is the object's Newtonian kinetic energy at thisvelocity?K= J
2)Look to see how much the two values of kinetic energy differ.Now the object is going 0.12 c. What is the object'svelocity?v = m/s
3)What is the object's relativistic kineticenergy at this velocity?K= J
4)What is the object's Newtonian kinetic energy at thisvelocity?K= J
5)Now we're going really fast. Look to see how much thetwo values differ now. Next, the object is going 0.59 c.What is the object's velocity?v = m/s
6)What is the object's relativistic kinetic energy atthis velocity?K= J
7)What is the object's Newtonian kinetic energy at thisvelocity?K= J
8)Next, the object is going 0.95 c. What is theobject's velocity?v = m/s
9)What is the object's relativistic kineticenergy at this velocity? K= J
10)What is the object's Newtonian kinetic energy at thisvelocity?K= J
