What is Relativistic: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Relativistic quantum chemistry combines relativistic mechanics with quantum chemistry to calculate elemental properties and structure, especially for the heavier elements of the periodic table. A prominent example is the explanation of the color of gold: due to relativistic effects, it is not silvery like most other metals.The term relativistic effects was developed in light of the history of quantum mechanics. Initially quantum mechanics was developed without considering the theory of relativity. Relativistic effects are those discrepancies between values calculated by models that consider relativity and those that do not. Relativistic effects are important for the heavier elements with high atomic numbers. In the most common layout of the periodic table, these elements are shown in the lower area. Examples are the lanthanides and actinides.Relativistic effects in chemistry can be considered to be perturbations, or small corrections, to the non-relativistic theory of chemistry, which is developed from the solutions of the Schrödinger equation. These corrections affect the electrons differently depending on the electron speed compared to the speed of light. Relativistic effects are more prominent in heavy elements because only in these elements do electrons attain sufficient speeds for the elements to have properties that differ from what non-relativistic chemistry predicts.

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  1. KenJackson

    Calculating relativistic effects of motion in solar system

    This question and answer are posed in Kim Stanley Robinson's novel "2312". My question is, is this all made up? Or might it be accurate?
  2. dsatkas

    I Introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics and maybe QFT

    I'm aware that most modern textbooks gloss over relativistic qm and jump to qft. Since I'm not that brilliant of a student I'm thinking that i should firstly familiarize myself with relativistic and then go to qft. So my first question: Is it worth it to study relativistic qm or should i jump...
  3. G

    "Common" relativistic variables.

    So the thing I have issues with in this problem is that it's about 2 particles traveling relative to each other. Been going though the basics of relativity, relativistic lengths, times, kinetic energy, work and force. But this problem states two particles and I'm not sure how to approach it. The...
  4. ognik

    Correction to non relativistic KE

    Homework Statement find series expansion of relativistic energy formula, At what speed is there a 10% correlation to the non relativistic KE. Homework Equations $$ E=\frac{mc^2}{\sqrt(1- \frac{v^2}{c^2})} = mc^2 + \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + ... $$ The Attempt at a Solution I found the series above...
  5. L

    An observation about relativistic space travel....

    I suppose I am not the first to notice this, but if you are going at say, 0.999c you will have shrunk by a factor of about 20 and everything else on the craft. Suppose the spacecraft is 2000 meters long, at 0.999c it will shrink to about 100 meters long. So suppose a person 2 meters tall...
  6. J

    Quantized Kinetic Energy of Relativistic Objects

    Hello, I want to know if energy added to moving objects is quantized. Kinetic energy of an moving object is given as KE = (γ - 1) mc2 , where γ is 1/√(1-v2/c2). And quantum theory talks about any energy always being quantized. So can the KE in moving objects be quantized?
  7. gracy

    What Does a Non-Relativistic Approach Mean in Quantum Mechanics?

    Homework Statement : 1) Consider 3rd orbit of He+ (Helium), using non-relativistic approach, the speed of electron in this orbit will be [given K = 9 x 109 constant, Z = 2 and (hfPlanck's Constant) = 6.6 x 10-34 J s] A) 2.92xl06m/s B) 1.46xl06m/s C) 0.73xl06m/s D) 3.0xl06m/s[/B]Homework...
  8. K

    Length Contraction & Relativistic Aberration: Is 1 Formula Enough?

    I have been coding a speed of light simulator and I am having a bit of trouble with a few aspects of the project. My first question is: Are the length contraction and relativistic aberration formulas BOTH needed in my calculations or does the relativistic aberration formula already account for...
  9. S

    Differentiating the relativistic charge wrt velocity

    Homework Statement Given that ##Q' = \int d^{3}x \bigg[ \rho \big( \frac{vx}{c^{2}},x,y,z \big) - \frac{v}{c^{2}} j^{x} \big( \frac{vx}{c^{2}},x,y,z \big) \bigg]##, show the following: ##\frac{dQ'}{dv} = \frac{1}{c^{2}} \int d^{3}x \bigg[ x \big( \frac{\partial \rho}{\partial t} -...
  10. O

    Relativistic Boltzmann (including QM) equation from entropy?

    I'm interested in the derivation of relativistic Boltzmann equation from entropy after reading Scott Dodelson's wonderful cosmology book. Does anyone know of any good readings for this? The usual way of doing things in classical mechanics is to assume \frac{dN}{dt}= 0 and go from there; but...
  11. Caneholder123

    Relativistic motion of the bullet

    1. A distant camera is taking an image of a bullet of proper length l_0 and velocity v. The bullet is moving on a straight line which is parallel to the ruler (a bit behind the bullet, when it is watched from the camera). An angle between the velocity vector and the line that connects the camera...
  12. M

    Novel Geometrical Models of Relativistic Stars: A Physical Analysis

    I haven't read these articles, but it seems that the claim is that there are spherically symmetric static space-times, which can describe compact isolated objects with arbitrarily large masses and arbitrarily small radi without being black holes. That doesn't seem right. What am I missing...
  13. U

    Relativistic Doppler Effect - Arbitrary Velocity

    Homework Statement Find the observed frequency ##\nu## in terms of proper frequency ##\nu_0##, speed ##v## and radial velocity component ##v_r## for a source moving at velocity ##\vec v## with respect to the observer. Now consider an observer in frame S where the source is seen moving at...
  14. jlefevre76

    Can Relativistic Propulsion Take Us Beyond Our Solar System?

    Okay, I tried searching for this in the forums and didn't really find what I was looking for. So, I'll start a new thread and if anybody has seen this before, feel free to drop a link to an old thread or whatever. Many of our older space probes use/used thermoelectric radioisotope batteries to...
  15. genxium

    Angular distribution of radiation in relativistic limit

    While linear accelerating an electron, with direction of acceleration being the ##z+## axis of the spherical coordinates, its radiation in angular distribution form is(according to this tutorial: http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/em/lectures/node132.html) ##\frac{dP(t')}{d\Omega} =...
  16. U

    How Does a Relativistic Photon Rocket Calculate Acceleration and Speed?

    Homework Statement (a) Show ##a = \frac{a_0}{\gamma^3}##. (b) Find proper acceleration of rocket (c) Find speed as a function of time. (d) Find acceleration of second rocket. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Part(a) 4-vector acceleration is given by ##\gamma^2 \left[...
  17. Cell_52797

    Calculating Relativistic Momentum for Physics Students

    Homework Statement If a mass of 1 kg has a velocity of 0.7c, what is the relativistic momentum? Homework Equations I don't know what equation to use...Please help..
  18. S

    Relativistic centripetal force is a byproduct of time

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  19. A

    Derivation of Relativistic Doppler Shift: Step-by-Step Guide

    i need thee the derivation of relativistic doppler shift. i found its derivation in the book of Serway, but it is not in detail and step by step. in the book there is given that: can anyone give me the step after eq#1.13? how eq#1.13 converted in the form of eq#1.14?
  20. genxium

    Relativistic generalization of Larmor fomula?

    While reading an online tutorial (http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/Class/phy319/phy319/node146.html) about deriving the relativistic generalization of Larmor Formula, I got some problems with the steps. Basically with an assumption ##\beta \ll 1## the author gets ##Power = \frac{e^2}{6 \pi...
  21. A

    Relativistic Kinetic Energy as a solution to a DE

    Has anyone ever seen KE derived this way? The only non-classical assumption is that mass = Energy/c^2 (I know, that's a big one) and that it accumulates as mass as the object is accelerated. (sorry for the plain text formatting, I need to learn how to do it right, I may reply with my first try)...
  22. R

    Why Do Relativistic Particles Lose Energy Quickly?

    I understand that slower particles will be subject to the electric fields of the material for longer and lose energy, but why should relativistic particles also lose energy quickly? The only idea we have is that there is a lorentz contraction of the electric field, BUT why then would that...
  23. I

    Magnetic Force from Current Loops: Relativistic Treatment

    There are plenty of examples where someone derives the magnetic force from a current carrying wire on a moving charged particle by looking at the frame of the particle and finding that the current has Lorentz contracted in such a way as to produce an electric field in an otherwise neutral wire...
  24. zthompson47

    Relativistic mass in Six Not-so-easy Pieces (Feynman)

    I'm hoping that someone can help me understand a topic on page 86 of Feynman's "Six Not-so-easy-pieces", in the "4-4 Relativistic mass" section. He says, "It is an interesting exercise to now check whether or not Eq.(4.9) is indeed true for arbitrary values of w, assuming that Eq.(4.10) is the...
  25. I

    Questions on relativistic mass and directional relativity?

    Okay these are kind of layman questions but I appreciate the time and effort for answering. You've probably got the question like when a proton is in the LHC what do people mean by it gains mass as it reaches a faster speed I realize it gains acceleration mass in the way it's continually...
  26. jk22

    Relativistic correction to the gravitational force?

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  27. A

    Intuitive Interpretation of Rest Energy

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  28. GeorgeDishman

    When did relic neutrinos cease being relativistic?

    Relic neutrinos decoupled from matter around the time of nucleogenesis so had the same temperature as matter and photons at that time. Photons decoupled much later, after electron/positron annihilation which heated the photons slightly so thereafter neutrino temperature should be (4/11)^(1/3)...
  29. Phynos

    Relativistic kinetic energy - particle decay

    Homework Statement A pion at rest (mπ = 273me) decays into a muon (mμ = 207me) and an antineutrino (mn ≈ 0). Find (a) the kinetic energy of the muon and (b) the energy of the antineutrino in electron volts. Homework Equations K = (γ-1)mc2 E = γmc2 ER = mc2 E2 = p2c2 + (mc2)2 I didn't...
  30. thrush

    Cosmological vs. Relativistic Doppler Shift

    Does anybody know a good read/primer that compares the observed cosmological redshift values to predictions made by the relativistic (gravitational) redshift? Thank you!
  31. J

    Relativistic correction of Schrödinger equation

    Hello there, I've been given the relativistic correction of the Schrödinger equation for a free particle: $$ - \frac{\hbar^2}{2m} \frac{\partial ^2\Psi}{\partial x^2} - \frac{\hbar^4}{8m^3c^2} \frac{\partial ^4\Psi}{\partial x^4} + E_0 \Psi = i \hbar \frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial t} $$ How we...
  32. 1

    How Do You Calculate Kinetic Energy in Relativistic Collisions?

    Homework Statement We have a particle mass ##m## with kinetic energy ##k## colliding with a stationary particle of mass ##2m##. The collision creates a composite mass of ##\sqrt{17}m##. Find the value of ##k## Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I have tried using mass-energy...
  33. S

    Relativistic doppler effect for light

    Problem statement, work done, relative equations: I am unsure if I got this problem right, especially part (e) A star is moving at 0.2c along the x axis. The star is moving away from observer A and toward observer B. The star emits light with a maximum intensity at wavelength 500nm. (a)...
  34. C

    Macroscopic Objects at Relativistic Speed

    How much energy would be required to accelerate something the size of the space station to the same speed as protons colliding at the LHC?
  35. mrspeedybob

    Relativistic Definition of Energy: E=Fd or E=md2/t2?

    In classical physics E=Fd and F=ma so E=mad. a=d/t2 so E=md2/t2 Measurements of d and t will get complicated by Lorentz transformation, so, is E=Fd still a correct definition of energy, or is it a Newtonian approximation which is not accurate at relativistic velocities?
  36. irre1evantt

    Relativistic Kinetic energy, momentum, speed.

    Homework Statement An Electron (rest mass=9.11*10^-31kg) is accelerated to an energy (mass energy+kinetic energy) of 30*10^6 eV (30 MeV). What is its kinetic energy? Its momentum? Its speed? (Note: 1 eV = 1.602*10^-19 Joules; c=2.998 * 10^8 ms^-1) Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution...
  37. Avatrin

    De Broglie Wavelength at Relativistic velocity

    Homework Statement A particle has charge e and masse m0. It is accelerated by a charge V to a relativistic velocity. Show that its de Broglie wavelength is: \lambda = \frac{h}{\sqrt{2m_0eV}} (1+\frac{eV}{2m_0c^2})^{-\frac{1}{2}} Homework Equations \lambda = \frac{h}{p} Conservation of...
  38. S

    Oscillating springs in relativistic time frame

    1. The problem statement, equations, and work done: [A] Two identical spring and mass oscillators are set in motion in perpendicular directions. The masses are each 4.0 kg and the spring constants are 196 N/m. [1] Calculate the angular frequency and the period of the oscillators. ##\omega =...
  39. LarryS

    Probability Postulate in Relativistic QM?

    In non-relativistic QM, the probability postulate works very well in position and momentum space. But, I have read that in relativistic QM (Dirac or QFT), the probability postulate in position space does not work because the corresponding probability density function is not Lorentz covariant...
  40. S

    Relativistic effects on radiation sources

    I have limited physics knowledge, but I have always been interested in the physics and I am an industrial radiation safety officer with an engineering background.Have there been any experiments in respect to measuring half life with large variance in gravitational fields? Although half life may...
  41. J

    Deriving Relativistic Pressure of Ideal Gas: Why Am I Getting v/c?

    Suppose the molecules of an ideal gas move with a speed comparable to the speed of light. I am trying to adapt the kinetic theory to express the pressure of the gas in terms of m and the relativistic energy, but each time I try to derive the expression, I get: P = (1/3)(N/V)(v/c)√(E2 - m2c2)...
  42. DiracPool

    Relativistic Gravity: Is It Weaker or Stronger? | Thought Experiment

    I know this topic has come up several times throughout the years, but after reviewing a good number of the threads, I’m still not clear as to whether any kind of consensus on the matter has been reached or not, or if there may be new developments in either theory or observation. If you review...
  43. S

    Relativistic relative velocity of particles

    Homework Statement In a given inertial frame two particles are shot out simultaneously from a given point with equal speeds u at an angle of 60 degrees with respect to each other. Using the concept of 4-velocity or otherwise, show that the relative speed of the particles is given by ##u_R =...
  44. SpiderET

    Effects of relativistic mass on astronaut

    Lets assume we have a starship which is flying from Earth to star XY which is in distance for example 100 lightyears. The computer of that ship is programmed that way, that it maintains acceleration 1 g. After some time the speed of ship reaches some significant part of speed of light and to...
  45. W

    Introductory Material for Relativistic Boltzmann Equation

    I’m searching for an introduction to relativistic Boltzmann equation. (Sorry, I know this is a question about learning material) I’ve read an excellent script from David Tong about non-relativistic kinetic theory (from Liouville to Navier-Stokes using Boltzmann equation (see link below)...
  46. Alettix

    Relativistic Work: Deriving Formula & Application to Electrons

    Hello, I have tried to derive a relativistic formula for work using the E = ϒmc^2 equation and that work is equivalent to change in energy. But I have not gotten especially far and everything is messy. However, when looking at solutions to some harder problems I encountered the formula...
  47. G

    Proton to neutron conversion at relativistic energies

    The reaction p→n+e++νe is common inside nucleus. But it not considered when we talk about free particle and reason is simply given mass of products being larger than reactants. Now my question is if there is a high energy proton having total energy in order of 2 GeV or let it to be 100 GeV (To...
  48. moriheru

    Unraveling the Mysteries of Relativistic Strings

    My question concerns motion of relativistic Strings, as the reader with a great a mount of deductive skills can deduce :). The question is: How can I derive the P's. More acuratly speaking why is the numerator how it is. I am referring to Zwiebach chapter 6. Thanks for any clarifications and...
  49. Jonathan Scott

    Useful relativistic gravity equation of motion

    In a recent thread, I referred to what I thought was a well-known very simple way of describing how objects move in a gravitational field, in terms of the rate of change of their coordinate momentum in isotropic coordinates. It seems that this result is not widely known (and I can't see a...
  50. N

    Relativistic Orbits: Effects of Mass Increase & Length Contraction

    Suppose an observer flies through our solar system at ##v \approx c## relative to the Sun, such that he sees each planet's (and the sun's) mass as greatly increased. What happens to the orbits of the planets? Since he sees the center of mass of the solar system as flying past him at ##v \approx...
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