Mass in special relativity (including the kinetic energy of the gas) only when it is measured in the center of momentum frame. Just as is the case for single particles, the calculated "rest mass" of such a container of gas does not change when it is in motion, although its "relativistic mass" does change. The container may even be subjected to a force which gives it an overall velocity, or else (equivalently) it may be viewed from an inertial frame in which it has an overall velocity (that is, technically, a frame in which its center of mass has a velocity). In this case,
Binary mass function the true orbital velocity is low (implying low mass objects) and the inclination high (the orbit is seen edge-on), or that the true velocity is high (implying high mass objects) but the inclination low (the orbit is seen face-on). The peak radial velocity formula_1 is the semi-amplitude of the radial velocity curve, as shown in the figure. The orbital period formula_2 is found from the periodicity in the radial velocity curve. These are the two observable quantities needed to calculate the binary mass function. The observed object of which the radial velocity can be measured is taken to be object