Suppose an object whose mass is m is moving with a speed of 0.8 c.Which is the correct expression for its kinetic energy? A)K = mv²/2 B)K = gmc² C)K = (g - 1)mc² D)Answers a and c are both correct.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct equation for kinetic energy in special relativity is K = (gamma - 1)mc^2, where gamma is the Lorentz factor and is calculated as 1/sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2). Therefore, the correct expression for the kinetic energy of an object moving with a speed of 0.8 c is K = (gamma - 1)mc^2, where gamma = 1/0.6 = 1.67. Substituting the values, we get K = (1.67 - 1)mc^2 = 0.67mc^2, which is the same as option C. The other options are either incorrect or nonsensical.

Suppose an Object Whose Mass Is M Is Moving with a Speed