Acta Physica Polonica B

Vol. 37, No. 4, April 2006, page 1327


Formula {E = mc2} in the Year of Physics

L.B. Okun

The ``famous formula'' E = mc2 and the concept of ``relativistic mass'' increasing with velocity, which follows from it, are historical artifacts, contradicting the basic symmetry of Einstein's Special Relativity. The relation discovered by Einstein is not E = mc2, but E0 = mc2, where E0 is the energy of a free body at rest. The source of the longevity of the ``famous formula'' is irresponsible attitude of relativity theory experts to the task of explaining it to the non-experts.

PACS numbers: 01.65.+g, 03.30.+p



 
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