2015/09/23 by Qing-Ping Ma, Ma, Qing-Ping
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Computational Physics and Python Applications #Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #General Physics (physics.gen-ph) #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #physics.gen-ph #physics.hist-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1509.07517
20 pages, 1 figure
arxiv created 2015/09/23 · openalex publication_date 2015/09/23 · arxiv updated 2015/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The mass-energy formula E=mc2 is thought to be derived by Einstein from special relativity. The present study shows that since the formula has also been derived from classical physics by Einstein, it is not an exclusively relativistic result. The formula is implied by the classical electromagnetic momentum P=E/c and the Newtonian definition of momentum P=mv. Like momentum P=mv, E=mc2 applies to both classical physics and special relativity, if relativistic mass is used in the equation. The derivation by Einstein in 1905 is logically flawed as a relativistic proof and the truly relativistic formula should be E=(E0)/(1-v2/c2)^(1/2) derived by Laue in 1911 and Klein in 1918. If the energy measured in one reference frame is E0, it is E=(E0)/(1-v2/c2)^(1/2) in a reference frame moving at velocity v relative to the first frame.