What Makes a Proton's Velocity Relativistic?

AI Thread Summary
A proton's velocity is considered relativistic when it approaches a significant fraction of the speed of light, typically around 10% or more. In the discussion, a proton moving at 2 x 10^4 m/s is not relativistic, while at 2 x 10^7 m/s, it reaches approximately 7% of the speed of light, thus becoming relativistic. The concept of the Lorentz factor (gamma) is introduced, indicating that even at lower velocities, any nonzero speed can be treated as relativistic, but the effects are negligible when beta (v/c) is small. For instance, at 50% of the speed of light, the Lorentz factor is 1.15, suggesting a 15% deviation from non-relativistic calculations. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurate physics calculations involving high-speed particles.
jimmy_neutron
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
I have been instructed to calculate the de Broglie wavelength of a proton moving at 1) 2 x 10^4 m/s and 2) 2 x 10^7 m/s

For the first velocity, the particle is not relativistic, but for the second velocity the particle is.

can someone explain to me what makes velocity 2 relativistic?
thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Its a significant fraction of the speed of light basically. velocity 2 is approx. 7% the speed of light while the first is 0.007%.
 
ah I see, is there a set percentage that makes a velocity relativistic?
 
To be Truthful, ANY nonzero velocity is relativistic ...
but the factor gamma (1/sqrt(1-beta^2)) is CLOSE to 1
for small beta ...
if beta = v/c = 50 %, for example, then gamma = 1.15 ...
you might be off by 15% if you calculated non-relativistically.
 

Thread 'Rolling without slipping on a curved surface'

Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
View full post »
Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'

Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'

TL;DR Summary: I would like to know the voltmeter readings on the two resistors separately in the picture in the following cases , When one of the keys is closed When both of them are opened (Knowing that the battery has negligible internal resistance) My thoughts for the first case , one of them must be 12 volt while the other is 0 The second case we'll I think both voltmeter readings should be 12 volt since they are both parallel to the battery and they involve the key within what the...
View full post »

Similar threads

De Broglie wavelength of electron and proton
Replies
14
Views
3K
De Broglie wavelength of an electron
Replies
3
Views
3K
De – Broglie wavelength of O_2
Replies
2
Views
2K
Nonrelativistic de Broglie energy Threshold of 1%
Replies
7
Views
2K
Calculating the De Broglie Wavelength of an Accelerated Particle
Replies
4
Views
2K
Relativistic Calculations for De-Broglie Wavelength
Replies
3
Views
8K
De Broglie Wavelength of an electron
Replies
3
Views
3K
De Broglie wavelength and energy levels
Replies
3
Views
2K
Homework -- wavelength associated with a neutron moving with energy of 2ev
Replies
4
Views
2K
De Broglie wavelength of a train
Replies
1
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top