# What is meant by "non-relativistic"? [duplicate]

I am reading a document on cosmology and particle physics (this s the first time I look into something like this). It frequently states the word "non-relativistic" but I do not understand what is meant by this. When I try to Google it, I don't get a straight answer. The passage I'm referring to is:

"This means that away from temperatures where particles become non-relativistic we find that the factor of proportionality, i.e. the slope of the decrease of the temperature, is constant and depends on the relativistic degrees of freedom. If one species drops out of equilibrium because it becomes non-relativistic, then its entropy density (like its energy density) decays exponentially. However, the net entropy has to stay constant so the particle that becomes non-relativistic has to transfer its entropy to the particle species that are still in thermal equilibrium. For example, when electrons and positions are in thermal equilibrium we have the reaction:..."

My question is: what does the author mean when he says the particles become non-relativistic? Why does that change the equations he provides as examples?

• I think the author implies that the speed of particles is much less than the speed of light. Jul 25 at 2:33
• Just enlarging on @M.Farooq : As particle approach C, the speed of light, properties such as mass, time and distance change. For example, if a particle's mass increases, it takes more energy to make it move faster. See Lorentz factor, gamma. Note that this only comes into play at very high temperatures, e.g., those inside a star or inside a tokamak, or for electrons close to the nucleus of actinides.
– DrMoishe Pippik
Jul 25 at 2:43
• I hadn't noticed you also posted on Phys.SE. Asking the same question simultaneously on multiple sites is frowned upon, so be careful. Jul 25 at 3:38
• Does this answer your question? What is meant by "non-relativistic"? Jul 26 at 9:33
• Sometimes just saying "classical" can be unclear because it means there is no quantum mechanics or no relativity or none of both. Non-relativistic is a term used to be clear that you are not considering relativity in your calculations. Jul 26 at 9:33

$$\mathrm{E^2 = p^2 c^2 + m^2 c^4}$$
The energy of the particle is therefore dependent on a sum of two quantities, the first being the kinetic energy (which contains the momentum $$\mathrm{p}$$), and the second being the "rest energy" (which contains the mass $$\mathrm{m}$$).
To simplify calculations, in some cases we can approximate the energy by just calculating the biggest term. When the kinetic energy of a particle is much smaller than its rest energy (specifically, when $$\mathrm{p \ll mc}$$), then $$\mathrm{E^2 = p^2 c^2 + m^2 c^4 \approx m^2 c^4}$$, from which $$\mathrm{E \approx mc^2}$$. This is the so-called "non-relativistic limit", where classical mechanics is a good description. This turns out to be the case for most of chemistry. Particles said to be "non-relativistic" obey this approximation with good accuracy.
For completeness, the kinetic energy of a particle can also be much greater than its rest energy ($$\mathrm{p \gg mc}$$), such that $$\mathrm{E^2 = p^2 c^2 + m^2 c^4 \approx p^2 c^2}$$, from which $$\mathrm{E \approx pc}$$. This is called the "ultra-relativistic limit", which for most particles is only applicable in extreme conditions (e.g. astrophysical events). Lastly, if a particle has kinetic energy similar to its rest energy ($$\mathrm{p \approx mc}$$), then no simplification can be made. The term "relativistic" is often used to indicate that special relativity cannot be ignored.