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To: ThinkPlease
F=ma is a great example of this. Great approximation at non-relativistic velocities, no good at all in the relativistic regime.

Well, maybe you can show the math.

813 posted on 03/17/2003 8:48:18 PM PST by AndrewC
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To: AndrewC
Well, maybe you can show the math.

While Newton's second law generally holds, as you get close to the speed of light, there is a relativistic mass factor that becomes apparent as one gets closer to the speed of light, it is gamma, where gamma= (the rest mass energy+the kinetic energy)/the rest mass energy. So at high velocities f=ma becomes f=(gamma)ma. where gamma*m is the relativistic mass.

828 posted on 03/18/2003 6:57:31 AM PST by ThinkPlease (Fortune Favors the Bold!)
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