Physics

A. Dasgupta

2026.2.24EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS

DOI: 10.1088/1361-6404/ae49c4

Abstract

We present an alternative derivation of the relativistic formula for the momentum of a point particle based on Lorentz covariance applied to a perfectly inelastic collision between two bodies.The derivation is elementary and only uses high school level calculus. We believe that this may be easier to explain to beginner students of special relativity than the usual approach that can be found in most textbooks.

Citation format

DASGUPTA, A. A new derivation of the relativistic formula for momentum. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, 2026, 47(2): 025605.