Physics: speed of particle w/ kinetic energy = rest energy

jeca86

Junior Member
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Sep 9, 2005
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Ok I don't know if you help with physics problems but here it goes...

What is the speed of a particle whose kinetic energy is equal to its own rest energy? The answer must end with a unit of c.
 
[Disclaimer: I am not a physicist, so what follows may be total garbage.]

The total energy (rest energy plus kinetic energy) of a mass m moving at speed v is \(\displaystyle E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}}\). You want this to be twice the rest energy. So \(\displaystyle \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}} = 2mc^2\), which gives \(\displaystyle v=(\sqrt3/2)c\).
 
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