Rest Energy (Noun)
Meaning
The energy equivalent to the mass of a particle at rest in an inertial frame of reference; equal to the rest mass times the square of the speed of light.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- The rest energy of a particle is a fundamental concept in special relativity, where it is related to the particle's mass and the speed of light.
- In particle physics, the rest energy of a particle is often used to calculate its total energy, including its kinetic energy.
- The rest energy of an electron is approximately 511 kiloelectronvolts, which is a fundamental constant in physics.
- According to Einstein's famous equation, the rest energy of a particle is equal to its mass times the square of the speed of light.
- The rest energy of a proton is much higher than that of an electron, due to its larger mass.