Question

If I throw a baseball with a speed that's so high that γ = 2, its mass relative to the ground isA) = 2 x m(baseball)B) = (1/2) x m(baseballC) = m(baseball)

Answer 1

Let the rest mass of the baseball be m.

The Lorentz factor is given as,

`\gamma=\frac{1}{\sqrt[]{1-(v^2)/(c^2)}}\ldots(1)`

Here, v is the velocity of the object, and c is the speed of light.

The relative mass is given as,

`m_(rel)=\frac{m}{\sqrt[]{1-(v^2)/(c^2)}}`

Using equation (1),

`m_(rel)=\gamma m`

Substitute 2 for γ,

`m_(rel)=2m`

Therefore, the mass of the baseball relative to the ground is 2×m(baseball). Hence, option (A) is the correct choice.