Relativistic kinetic mass and kinetic energy in thermal science

Abstract

Relativity is a basic theory of modern physics that has changed the traditional view of space-time based on Newton’s mechanics. In particular, the mass-energy equation in special relativity reveals the profound internal relationship between mass and energy, the two most basic physical quantities in nature. Usually, this equation is used to calculate the mass loss in a nuclear reaction and the particle energy in a high-energy particle accelerator. However, it should be pointed out that relativity and the mass-energy equation, as the basic theories describing the laws of nature, are not limited only to nuclear reactions and high-energy physics. They are of universal significance in other branches of physics, including thermal science. This paper reviews some applications of relativity in thermal science from the relativity’s view of time and space, and points out the internal relationship between relativity and thermal science. We analyzed the heat transfer process from the perspective of mass transfer in the framework of relativity. We put forward the concepts of thermal mass and thermal mass energy based on the mass-energy equation. In thermal science, thermal mass and thermal mass energy are relativistic kinetic mass and relativistic kinetic energy. Moreover, based on the thermal mass theory, we have established a general heat conduction equation and provided its physical explanation at both macroscopic and microscopic scales. The physical mechanism of non-Fourier heat conduction phenomena, such as heat waves, can be clarified. Finally, through the experiment of heat conduction in gold nanofilms with ultrahigh heat flux, thermal mass theory has been proved preliminarily to be correct.