Relativistic momentum

Relativistic momentum is the product of an object's Lorentz factor, rest mass, and velocity. It is the spatial part of the object's four-momentum and approaches classical momentum at speeds much smaller than light speed.

Lorentz factor: The factor by which time, length, and relativistic energy change with relative motion. It multiplies rest mass and velocity to give relativistic momentum.
Momentum: A measure of motion equal to mass times velocity in classical mechanics. Relativistic momentum extends this familiar definition beyond the low-speed limit.
Classical momentum: The product of mass and velocity in Newtonian mechanics. It approximates relativistic momentum when speed is much smaller than light speed.
Particle accelerator: A machine that uses electromagnetic fields to accelerate charged particles to high energies. Accelerator beams require relativistic momentum to relate magnetic bending to particle motion.
Four-momentum: The energy-momentum four-vector whose components transform together under Lorentz transformations. Relativistic momentum forms its spatial components, alongside energy divided by light speed.
Rest mass: The invariant mass of an object, measured in a frame where it is at rest. It sets the mass scale in the relativistic momentum formula.
Relativistic mass: A historical convention that defines a speed-dependent mass as total energy divided by c². The convention rewrites momentum as mass times velocity but is generally avoided in modern treatments.
Collider experiment: An experiment that brings particle beams into collision to study their interactions. Momentum conservation helps reconstruct unseen particles from measured collision products.
Relativistic energy: The total energy of a moving object, including its rest energy and kinetic energy. Energy and momentum are linked components of the same relativistic description.
Velocity: The rate and direction of an object's change in position. Relativistic momentum points along velocity and grows nonlinearly with speed.

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