183_notes:point_particle

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183_notes:point_particle [2021/03/12 02:26] – [The Simplest System: A Single Particle] stumptyl183_notes:point_particle [2021/05/06 20:42] (current) – [The Total Energy of a Single Particle] stumptyl
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 ==== The Total Energy of a Single Particle ==== ==== The Total Energy of a Single Particle ====
  
-[{{183_notes:real_to_pp.001.png?500|A real car crushed down to a point particle for the purpose of modeling the translation of the car. }}]+[{{  183_notes:week7_cartopoint.png?500|A real car crushed down to a point particle for the purpose of modeling the translation of the car. }}]
  
-The systems that you will consider will be approximated by a single object, the //point particle//. The point particle is an object that has no size of its own, but carries the mass of the object it is meant to represent. This point particle experiences the same force that the real object experiences, and thus models the motion of that real physical system to the extent that you only care about how the object translates (moves without rotation). Point particles do not spin or change their shape. Later, [[183_notes:energy_sep|we will relax these conditions]].+The systems that you will consider will be approximated by a single object, **__the point particle__**. The point particle is an object that has no size of its own, but carries the mass of the object it is meant to represent. This point particle experiences the same force that the real object experiences, and thus models the motion of that real physical system to the extent that you only care about how the object translates (moves without rotation). Point particles do not spin or change their shape. Later, [[183_notes:energy_sep|we will relax these conditions]].
  
 Thanks to Einstein, we know the total energy of a single particle system is given by, Thanks to Einstein, we know the total energy of a single particle system is given by,
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 $$E_{rest} = mc^2$$ $$E_{rest} = mc^2$$
  
-It appears that the rest of the energy is associated with the motion of the particle. As such, it is refereed to as the //kinetic energy// of the particle.+It appears that the rest of the energy is associated with the motion of the particle. As such, it is refereed to as the __**kinetic energy (J)**__ of the particle.
  
 $$K = E_{tot} - E_{rest} = \gamma m c^2 - mc^2 = (\gamma - 1)mc^2$$ $$K = E_{tot} - E_{rest} = \gamma m c^2 - mc^2 = (\gamma - 1)mc^2$$
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