Abstract

A new equation for mass is proposed in which motion relative to the locally dominant gravitational fields is the critical factor in determining changes in mass. According to this equation, a body at the Earth's surface, moving at the velocity of light relative to the Earth's gravitational field in the direction of, or opposite to, the Earth's orbital velocity about the Sun, will have a mass 120,000 times its rest mass. This is the minimum mass a body at the Earth's surface can have when moving at the velocity of light relative to the Earth's gravitational field. For an electron this mass corresponds to an energy of 60 Gev. At energies beyond 60 Gev., under these conditions, an electron will attain a velocity greaster than light. Phase II of the Large Electron Positron (LEP) accelerator should be capable of imparting an energy of 100 Gev. to an electron. However, it is predicted that under these conditions, and utilizing the mass equation of Special Relativity to operate, the LEP will fail to impart an energy of more than 60 Gev. per electron.