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I am wondering if, for a particle moving close to the speed of light (so that we must examine things relativistically rather than classically) does the centripetal force equation $F_c=m\frac{v^2}{r}$ still hold? If not, what is the correct equation for centripetal force?

NeutronStar
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1 Answers1

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Since relativistic momentum p = $\gamma m_0 v$, then:

$\vec{F} = \frac{d\vec{p}}{dt} = \gamma m_0 \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}$, which, when solved using vectors is equal to: $\gamma m_0 \frac{v^2}{r}$

PhotonBoom
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