Mass Increase

Mass increase refers to the observed phenomenon where the mass of an object appears to
grow larger as its velocity approaches the speed of light. This effect is a consequence of
Einstein's theory of relativity, which states that as an object's energy increases due to its motion,
its mass appears to increase as well. The formula for mass increase involves the object's rest
mass, velocity, and the speed of light, and it demonstrates how the mass becomes greater as the
object moves faster. The equation for calculating the mass as seen by an outside observer is as
follows:

m0
m=

√
2
v
1− 2
c

where:

m0= the mass measured at rest relative to an observer traveling with the same velocity as the
mass, the "rest mass".

m = the mass measured by the observers on the other reference frame.

v = the speed of the object.

c = the speed of light in a vacuum.

Example Problem:

A particle is accelerated to a speed of .95c relative to an observer in a laboratory, the "lab" frame.
If the particle was originally measured to have a mass of 5 grams, what is the mass that is
observed in the laboratory?

m0=5 g

v=.95 c
m=?
Solving:
5g 5g 5g 5g
m= → m= → m= → m= → m=16 g

√ √ √.0975
(.95 c )
2 2
.9 02 5 c .312
1− 1−
c
2
c2