Interaction between an Accelerated Mass in Straight Motion and a Hidden Energy Reservoir as a Strict Mathematical Consequence of Special Relativity: Scientific Explanation

Abstract

The mass of an accelerated body moving at relativistic velocity was discovered by A. Einstein and H.A. Lorentz to depend on whether the acceleration is carried out in the direction of motion or in a transverse direction. E. P. Epstein rejected this result in the “Annalen der Physik”; he rather postulated an additional force that turns up when the body is accelerated in the longitudinal direction. It is possible to demonstrate that the idea of an increased longitudinal mass is based on a simple mathematical mistake. It turns out that Epstein's hidden extra force is necessary to remedy this problem in order to prevent Special Relativity from being internally inconsistent. Given that the speed reached is relativistic, it performs the majority of the total work absorbed by the moving object and is therefore in charge of the majority of the increase in its energy (=mass). In other words: While the total force on the body needed to maintain a constant acceleration a0 is “(1-v²/c²)-1 ma0=m0(1-v²/c²)-3/2 a0”, the technical force needed to maintain that acceleration amounts only to “ma0=m0(1-v²/c²)-½a0”. Therefore, the total energy of two objects that collide symmetrically and elastically is not preserved during the collision, necessitating the presence of a hidden energy source. This result is confirmed by calculations that use the concept of momenergy. In particle physics, the phenomena of a seeming loss of energy has already been noted (target experiment), but its effects have gone unnoticed. Instead, a reason (reduced "energy of the centre of mass") has been offered that is inconsistent and goes against the relativity principle.