Xref: utzoo sci.space:9302 sci.physics:5703
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!yale!cmcl2!ccnysci!dan
From: dan@ccnysci.UUCP (Dan Schlitt)
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.physics
Subject: Re: Stupid relativity question
Message-ID: <1198@ccnysci.UUCP>
Date: 25 Jan 89 19:13:29 GMT
References: <5919@cadnetix.COM> <13273@cup.portal.com>
Reply-To: dan@ccnysci.UUCP (Dan Schlitt)
Organization: City College Of New York
Lines: 13


The discussion of relativity would be much easier if no one had ever
used relativistic mass (which is generally shortened to simply mass to
the utter confusion of everyone).  There is only one meaningful mass.
That is the "proper mass" or "rest mass".  It is something that all
observers can agree on and thus is something which is significant for
the purpose of discussion.  But, alas, it is much too late to get
people to quit calling (gamma)mc^2 the mass.
-- 
Dan Schlitt                        Manager, Science Division Computer Facility
dan@ccnysci                        City College of New York
dan@ccnysci.bitnet                 New York, NY 10031
                                   (212)690-6868