Mass & Velocity: Gaining Momentum with Speed

In summary, the increase in velocity of a particle causes it to gain momentum, which is directly proportional to its mass. This is due to the properties of spacetime, specifically length contraction and time dilation. Therefore, the particle does not gain mass, only momentum.
  • #1
Saado
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Why does a particle gain mass/momentum as its velocity increases?

How does this happen?
 
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  • #2
Ignore the previous reply, it was wrong and crackpottery and got deleted accordingly.

It does not gain mass. It gains momentum as momentum is defined as a velocity-dependent quantity (in classical physics, just mass*velocity).
 
  • #3
Ahhh thanks
 
  • #4
Saado said:
Why does a particle gain mass/momentum as its velocity increases?

How does this happen?
You must be referring to relativistic mass. The change in mass with speed is due to the combination of length contraction and time dilation, i.e. due to the properties of spacetime.
 
  • #5
Momentum is directly proportional to mass of object as well as the velocity,

And that's why mass doesn't change but the velocity in your case may be constant or relative!

Thats actually the definition of momentum too.

As mfb said it doesn't gain mass but momentum.
 

FAQ: Mass & Velocity: Gaining Momentum with Speed

What is mass?

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. It is typically measured in kilograms (kg).

What is velocity?

Velocity is a measure of an object's speed and direction. It is typically measured in meters per second (m/s).

How does mass affect velocity?

According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, the greater an object's mass, the more force is needed to accelerate it to a certain velocity. This means that objects with larger mass will have a slower velocity than objects with smaller mass, assuming the same amount of force is applied.

How does velocity affect an object's momentum?

Momentum is directly proportional to an object's velocity. This means that as an object's velocity increases, its momentum also increases. This can be seen in collisions, where objects with higher velocities will have a greater impact and cause more damage.

What is the relationship between mass, velocity, and momentum?

The relationship between mass, velocity, and momentum is described by the equation p = m x v, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity. This means that the momentum of an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its velocity. As either mass or velocity increases, the momentum of the object will also increase.

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