rest energy

American  

noun

Physics.

1. the energy equivalent to the mass of a particle at rest in an inertial frame of reference, equal to the rest mass times the square of the speed of light.

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rest energy Scientific  

/ rĕst /

1. In Special Relativity, the energy corresponding to the rest mass of a body, equal to the rest mass multiplied by the speed of light squared.

2. See more at mass-energy equivalence

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Etymology

Origin of rest energy

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Relativistically, at rest we have rest energy E0 = mc2 .

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Find the rest energy in joules and MeV of a proton, given its mass is 1.67×10−27 kg .

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Because of the relationship of rest energy to mass, we now consider mass to be a form of energy rather than something separate.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015