We obtain the expressions for the energy and momentum of a relativistic particle by incorporating the equivalence of mass and energy into Newtonian mechanics.

1.
Y.
Simon
and
N.
Husson
, “
Langevin's derivation of the relativistic expressions for energy
,”
Am. J. Phys.
59
,
982
987
(
1991
).
2.
P. C.
Peters
, “
An alternate derivation of relativistic momentum
,”
Am. J. Phys.
54
,
804
808
(
1986
);
R. P.
Feynman
,
R. B.
Leighton
, and
M. L.
Sands
,
The Feynman Lectures on Physics
(
Addison-Wesley
,
Reading, MA
,
1963
);
G. S.
Adkins
, “
Energy and momentum in special relativity
,”
Am. J. Phys.
76
,
1045
1047
(
2008
).
3.
B. F.
Schutz
,
A First Course in General Relativity
(
Cambridge U.P.
,
Cambridge, UK
,
1985
);
H.
Goldstein
,
C.
Poole
, and
J.
Safko
,
Classical Mechanics
, 3rd ed. (
Addison Wesley
,
San Fransisco, CA
,
2002
);
J. R.
Taylor
,
Classical Mechanics
(
University Science Books
,
Mill Valley, CA
,
2005
).
4.
D.
Morin
,
Introduction to Classical Mechanics
(
Cambridge U.P.
,
Cambridge, UK
,
2007
).
5.
See
M.
Jammer
,
Concepts of Mass in Contemporary Physics and Philosophy
(
Princeton U.P.
,
Princeton, NJ
,
2000
) and references therein.
6.

With the relativistic energy established we find that an infinite amount of energy is required to accelerate a particle to light speed. The existence of this ultimate speed calls us to question Galilean relativity, and with it the structure of Newtonian space and time.

7.

All integrals will be taken from 0 to v.

8.
T. A.
Moore
,
Six Ideas That Shaped Physics: Unit C: Conservation Laws Constrain Interactions
, 2nd ed. (
McGraw-Hill
,
New York, NY
,
2002
).
9.

This can also be seen from the recursion formula, Eq. (16), which indicates that En is of order (v/c)2 times En1.

10.

This is similar to the Frobenius method of solving differential equations by means of power series.

11.

Just as with a physical system, the same equations started with different initial conditions will generate different results.

12.
A similar differential equation was obtained in
W. G.
Holladay
, “
The derivation of relativistic energy from the Lorentz γ
,”
Am. J. Phys.
60
,
281
(
1992
), starting with the relativistic momentum p=γmv as a given.
13.

The analogy with Frobenius theory can be made exact at this point since we have a differential equation for E, which we could expand as a series in v.

14.
R. P.
Feynman
 et al,
Feynman Lectures on Gravitation
, 2nd ed. (
Westview Press
,
Boulder, CO
,
2002
).
For similar approaches, see also
S.
Deser
, “
Self-interaction and gauge invariance
,”
Gen. Rel. Grav.
1
,
9
18
(
1970
);
D.
Giulini
, “
Consistently implementing the field self-energy in Newtonian gravity
,”
Phys. Lett. A
232
,
165
170
(
1997
);
and in the context of scalar (rather than tensor) gravity see
A.
Einstein
, “
Zur theorie des statischen gravitationsfeldes
,”
Ann. Phys.
38
,
443
438
(
1912
)
and
J.
Franklin
, “
Self-consistent, self-coupled scalar gravity
,”
Am. J. Phys.
83
,
332
337
(
2015
).
This procedure is not without its pitfalls however; see, e.g.,
P. C.
Peters
, “
Where is the energy stored in a gravitational field?
Am. J. Phys.
49
,
564
569
(
1981
)
and
J. H.
Young
, “
A charge contribution to (pseudo-)Newtonian gravity
,”
Am. J. Phys.
59
,
565
567
(
1991
).
15.
M.
Born
, “
On the quantum theory of the electromagnetic field
,”
Proc. Roy. Soc. A
143
,
410
437
(
1934
);
M.
Born
and
L.
Infeld
, “
Foundations of the new field theory
,”
Proc. Roy. Soc. A
144
,
425
451
(
1934
). There has been some recent interest in this theory since it appears in certain limits of string theories.
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