particle energy

particle energy

[′pärd·ə·kəl ‚en·ər·jē] (mechanics) For a particle in a potential, the sum of the particle's kinetic energy and potential energy. (relativity) For a relativistic particle the sum of the particle's potential energy, kinetic energy, and rest energy; the last is equal to the product of the particle's rest mass and the square of the speed of light.