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The relativistic factor gamma is given by 1 divided by the square root of (1 minus v squared over c squared). What happens to gamma when v is very small compared with c?
AGamma becomes close to 0
BGamma becomes negative
CGamma becomes exactly equal to v
DGamma becomes close to 1
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Gamma becomes close to 1
1. Gamma depends on the ratio v divided by c inside a square root.
2. When v is small compared with c, that ratio is nearly zero, so gamma becomes close to 1.
3. Gamma is never negative, since it comes from a square root of a positive quantity.
4. Gamma does not become close to zero or equal to v at low speeds.
5. So gamma approaching 1 at low speed is correct.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10 "Special Relativity", section 10.2 Consequences of Special Relativity_
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