Equations
Lorentz factor
Modern physics · id lorentz_factor
\gamma = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}
| Symbol | Quantity | Unit | Meaning | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
gamma | Lorentz factor | dimensionless | Relativistic factor for time dilation and length contraction | 1 to 10000 |
v | relative speed | m/s | Speed of the moving object | 0 to 2.99792e+08 |
c | speed of light constant | m/s | Speed of light in vacuum |
Assumptions
- Inertial frames
- Constant relative speed
Valid when
- No extra conditions.
Found by
Questions with these words retrieve this equation: lorentz factor, gamma, relativity, special relativity, fast, near light speed.
Source
OpenStax University Physics Volume 3, Chapter 5 (reference; entry written by the project). License: MIT. Entry confidence: 0.99.