An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

In → special relativity, the mass that is assigned to a body in motion. Einstein demonstrated that the velocity of the observer has an effect on the way inertial mass is measured. The relativistic mass is expressed by m_t = m₀ / [1 - (v/c)²]^1/2,
where m₀ is the → rest mass, v is the velocity, and c the → velocity of light. The experimental evidence for this phenomenon is observed in the mass of high-speed electrons accelerated by magnetic fields. This formula shows that it is impossible for a mass to be accelerated to the velocity of light in a vacuum.

See also: → relativistic; → mass.