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On the transformation of mass and momentum densities in special relativity

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Abstract

By considering the mass and momentum densities of a point mass moving at uniform velocity, the known transformation of these densities from a representation in one inertial system to another is easily derived. The transformation is not linear in mass and momentum density, but the introduction of a dyadic stress density tensor gives a linear relation. The transformation is shown to hold for a general continuous mass distribution in which mass and momentum are conserved, provided a specific choice is made for the stress density tensor. This result contrasts with the particle viewpoint of matter in which only the divergence of the stress density tensor need be fixed so far as the transformation is concerned. A change of functions is made which greatly simplifies the transformations. The new functions are shown to represent a conserved fluid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electrical Engineering Department, California State University, 90840, Long Beach, California

    G. H. Hostetter

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  1. G. H. Hostetter
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Research supported in part by a grant from the California State University, Long Beach Foundation.

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Hostetter, G.H. On the transformation of mass and momentum densities in special relativity. Int J Theor Phys 15, 247–261 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01809473

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01809473

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