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rapidity
EntityQ1366833· pop 17· linked from 195 articles

thumb|upright=0.85|Rapidity is the value of for velocity and speed of light

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10 sections
Contents
  • History
  • Minkowski diagram
  • Lorentz boost
  • Velocity addition
  • Hyperbolic functions
  • Exponential and logarithmic relations
  • Doppler effect
  • In experimental particle physics
  • See also
  • Notes and references

thumb|upright=0.85|Rapidity is the value of for velocity and speed of light

In special relativity, the classical concept of velocity is converted to rapidity to accommodate the limit determined by the speed of light. Velocities must be combined by Einstein's velocity-addition formula. For low speeds, rapidity and velocity are almost exactly proportional but, for higher velocities, rapidity takes a larger value, with the rapidity of light being infinite.

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