Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Physics Department
Physics 8.20
Introduction to Special Relativity

IAP 2003
January 17, 2003

Assignment 3 A correction
Due January 24, 2003

Problem Set 3 A correction

18. Non-relativistic limit

The correct relativistic formula for the energy of a particle of rest mass m and speed
v is, of course, E(v) = m(v)c2 .
(a) Expand E(v) to order v 4 . Identify the rst correction to the usual non-relativistic
formula for the kinetic energy, T = 12 mv 2 .
(b) How large is the correction of part a) for the Earth relative to the
Sun? Express your answer as a fraction of the Earths rest mass.
You will need the Earths mass and its orbital speed to complete this
estimate.
(c) How large a percentage error did you make by using the approximation of part
a) instead of the exact result in the case of the Earths motion around the Sun?