The property of an object that determines how much it responds to a force in Newtonian mechanics, and how much it interacts with gravity in the Newtonian framework. Mass also refers to the intrinsic energy of a particle in particle physics.
3
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2answers
496 views
Does Dark Matter interact with Higgs Field?
Dark matter does have gravitational mass as we know from its discovery. Does it have inertial mass?
1
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1answer
170 views
Why not accurate masses of elementary particles?
In the standard model of particle accuracy in calculating mass is very low.
And you can not predict the upper limit of Higgs particle mass accurately. Why not accurate masses of elementary particles?
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3answers
234 views
What does “nearly infinite mass” mean?
I am sure this is a silly question, but I was reading something that described the pre big-bang universe as having "nearly infinite mass."
How can something be "nearly" infinite? The term seems to ...
2
votes
1answer
117 views
The role of dark matter in black holes and star formation
In my understanding, there exists a critical mass for which a star needs to be in order for it to collapse into a black hole. This also applies to a certain critical density of gas in order for stars ...
0
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1answer
69 views
Space station gains enough mass to lose orbit?
I.S.S is constantly being improved (add-ons).
Will the space station need to be moved to a higher orbit at some point?
0
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2answers
178 views
Conservation of momentum equation, how do I factor out v0Final and v1Final?
I am trying to figure out an equation for conservation of momentum. So,
If combined momentum before and after the collision is the same, and momentum is velocity times mass, then for 2 objects (A,B), ...
0
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0answers
166 views
Why Is Linear Inertia Only A Property? [closed]
The Inertia of a body is said to be its property or virtue that is directly proportional to its mass. Now if we consider Inertia of rectilinear motion, it depends on the mass as well as the ...
-2
votes
1answer
185 views
future light cones and light paths
I understand that an event, in a four dimensional space-time, produces a light cone. As time increases the cones gets larger on either side of the event (past and future). For example the if the sun ...
1
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1answer
214 views
The Strength Of A Black Hole
Does the gravitational strength of a black hole at its singularity change the more it pulls things into it?
1
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3answers
108 views
Carrying water on person, or on the frame when bicycling
So, the question is as follows:
What is the difference in work exerted by the rider in the two following scenarios?
a) Rider + bike. Water carried in a holder on the frame
b) Rider + bike. Water ...
-1
votes
1answer
154 views
Clarification of rest mass
So I have only just been introduced to the concept of rest mass in Special Relativity.
Do we assume that the rest mass of a fundamental particle is constant in all inertial reference frames? i.e. is ...
1
vote
1answer
224 views
How does a star wobble due to orbiting bodies
What equations determine how a star wobbles in response to an orbiting planet, and can it be used to determine the mass of distant objects based on the wobble?
If there are other more reliable ...
8
votes
2answers
700 views
Does $E = mc^2$ apply to photons?
Photons are massless, but if $m = 0$ and $E = mc^2$ then $E = 0c^2 = 0$. This would say that photons have no energy, which is not true.
However, given the formula $E = ℎf$, a photon does have energy ...
2
votes
2answers
456 views
How do you weigh a box on a scale whose limit is too low?
As you will see I know nothing about physics and after being asked to solve a physics problem in a recent interview wanted to ask it of professionals and see what the response would be:
I have a set ...
2
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2answers
186 views
Which new insight did $E=mc^2$ give us?
I had a special relativity course at university. Now I'm trying to extract what new insight $E=mc^2$ did give us. I mean that moving mass has/is energy (kinetic) not new. The energy merely changed ...
3
votes
1answer
85 views
Neutrino Oscillation and their gravitational implications
As I understand neutrinos, there are three different flavors, all with different masses. Although the masses of these neutrinos have not been directly measured, their mass differences have been. ...
2
votes
2answers
601 views
Are neutrinos affected by gravity?
Layman here, but EE and BS physics. I know that light is affected by gravity. But are neutrinos? During the collapse of a star into a neutron star, as the electrons join protons to form neutrons ...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
How to explain relativistic mass with 2 moving systems, but not 3?
All the visual explanations I know work in some kind of "If you are moving relative to something A, while inside A something is moving, the stuff in A has to move slower due time dilation and ...
1
vote
2answers
309 views
At what point does a projectile leave a slingshot?
Assuming a frictionless / "perfect" environment, and given a ball held in an elastic sling (like a hand-held catapult) where the pocket is lighter than the projectile itself, what is the point at ...
0
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2answers
203 views
What is the interaction with Higgs field(s) that give the quarks so much different masses?
The masses of quarks are:
mu 2∼3 MeV md 4∼6 MeV
mc 1.3 GeV ms 80∼130 MeV
mt 173 GeV mb 4∼5 GeV
2
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2answers
2k views
All matter has a mass but does all matter have a gravitational pull?
I know that all planets and stars have a gravitational pull but does a simple much smaller object have a gravitational pull for example a pebble?
1
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1answer
376 views
If photons are deflected by a strong gravitational field, then how come photons do not have mass? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Explain how (or if) a box full of photons would weigh more due to massless photons
It has been proved and showed through experiments that light can be bent by the Sun or ...
-4
votes
2answers
140 views
Gravitational attraction [closed]
The mutual force with gravitational attraction between two masses is 500N.
a. If the masses are moved 5 times as far apart, what is the new mutual force of gravitational attraction?
b. If the masses ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
What defines the mass of elementary particle?
The electron is particle.
The mass of electron is $9.10938215(45)\times 10^{−31}\, {\rm kg}$.
But why is the mass exactly what it is?
What in physics defines the mass of elementary particle?
4
votes
4answers
625 views
Increasing mass' effect on the balance between centripetal force and centrifugal force
Okay, this is nothing more than a thought experiment which popped into my head while driving home from work today.
Take the case of a single body orbiting another, larger body, as in a planet and a ...
11
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6answers
1k views
What is the symmetry which is responsible for conservation of mass?
According to Noether's theorem, all conservation laws originate from invariance of a system to shifts in a certain space. For example conservation of energy stems from invariance to time translation.
...
1
vote
1answer
773 views
Can we determine the force an object exerts by its mass and acceleration?
I understand that the objects acceleration is determined by the force exerted on it, and that the force exerted on it is determined by its acceleration.
But, does an object's (named A) acceleration ...
4
votes
3answers
181 views
Could we prove that neutrinos have mass by measuring their gravitational signature?
It is now said that neutrinos have mass. If an object has mass then it also emits a gravitational field. I appreciate the neutrinos mass is predicted to be small, but as there are so many produced ...
3
votes
2answers
556 views
Does a photon see a 0-D universe?
For a massless particle the spacetime interval between its point of emission and point of absorption is zero: the two points coincide. From the vantage point of such a particle space-time has reduced ...
2
votes
1answer
225 views
momentum conservation question involving a rocket and a spaceship [closed]
With the engines off a space ship is cruising at a velocity of 230m.s
It fires a rocket straight ahead at the enememy vessel. The mass of the rocket is 1300kg and the mas of the ship (not including ...
3
votes
3answers
280 views
storing energy (as mass)
When chemical energy is released mass is reduced, if only by a negligible amount. Presumably that's true for all energy. And presumably that works in reverse as well: storing energy involves an ...
1
vote
1answer
433 views
Is the curvature of space around mass independent of gravity?
Is the curvature of space caused by the local density of the energy in that area?Could gravity be a separate phenomenon only arising from the curvature of space? For instance if the density of energy ...
1
vote
1answer
262 views
Calculating the force of a mass bearing down on an object
I need to calculate the force of a weight bearing down on a smaller object, constraining it from expansion.
The weight bearing down has a much bigger surface area than the smaller object.
I know the ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
How long does it take to weigh an uncooperative mass?
(This is curiosity, not a practical question. It was inspired by standing still for a digital scale, and considering whether it would be possible to make a scale that could handle being jumped on, ...
2
votes
1answer
205 views
What is the mass of a photon in non-empty spaces?
It is a well known result of the special theory of relativity that the photon has no rest mass, because for a particle to attain the speed of light, it must have zero rest-mass. I will not dig into ...
0
votes
2answers
201 views
How far does physics influence russian roulette?
Prompted by this discussion on the math exchange
My thought was that the added mass of a bullet in an otherwise empty revolver would bias the chamber spin such that the bullet would remain in one of ...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
Can non-free forces change the rest mass?
While reading Hobsen et al.'s "General Relativity: An Introduction for Physicists", I came across a bit confusing derivation. Multiplying the 4-force and 4-velocity, the following derivation can be ...
3
votes
6answers
1k views
2
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2answers
302 views
Does the measured mass of earth include that of the atmosphere?
Just what the title states please... and perhaps naive too...
Wikipedia pegs the mass of our Earth at 5.9722 × 10^24 kg.
Does this figure include the mass of the Atmosphere?
2
votes
2answers
539 views
How could something have negative mass?
With all the theories on how Neutrinos apparently broke the light barrier, there was one theory someone told me of how neutrinos might have less than zero mass, but she didn't explain how this was ...
3
votes
4answers
582 views
What if we could give photons some mass?
I was reading an article and these paragraphs got me wondering...
Before I list the replies, here is some background. The Higgs mechanism describes an invisible field that, it is argued, split one
...
0
votes
1answer
791 views
Vertical component of moving weight at a 45 degree angle
Here's an easier one.
I use the leg press machine at the gym so I don't have to worrying about hurting myself while lifting heavier weight.
The weight glides on a track that looks to be 45 degrees.
...
2
votes
1answer
165 views
Motion is relative, right? And most pop sci relativity explanations are somewhat incorrect?
On page 20 of A Brief History of Time:
. . . all observers should measure the same speed of light, no matter
how fast they are moving.
But in an observer's frame of reference, they're actually ...
4
votes
1answer
148 views
Is there a theory which treats particles as classical point singularities?
Is there a published theory that looks at all matter as occupying no space and only being felt because of its gravitational pull?
We've been taught in school that matter has mass and occupies space. ...
9
votes
2answers
247 views
Do we have an idea about the amount of matter in the universe?
Do we consider the amount of matter in the universe to be "infinite"? Or do we have an idea about "how much" there is?
1
vote
2answers
528 views
Calculating the gravitational acceleration inside of a planet
Plant X has a radius of 5000 km and is composed of two layers.
The first inner layer ranges from the centre to 2000 km from centre, it's density is 8 kg / dm^3.
The second layer ranges from 2000 ...
2
votes
2answers
126 views
Inertial Mass of a scalar field
Does it make sense to talk of the inertial mass of a scalar field? By the equivalence principle, it must be equal to its gravitational mass. We know that the scalar field contributes towards the ...
3
votes
3answers
861 views
Is it possible to calculate weight of person with sensors found in today's smartphone?
Is it possible to calculate the weight of a person by only
using his smartphone, some action he must perform (jump, rotate etc.) and
some data like his height or age.
Current smartphones have the ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
Difference between baryonic, inertial and gravitational mass? (and relation to dark matter)
Inertial mass: determined from Newton's f = ma
Gravitational mass: determined via Newton's law of gravity
Baryonic mass: sum of mass of all baryons.
Which ones ...
4
votes
1answer
156 views
Avogadro's number
Could I get an explanation of Avogadro's number and how it relates to determining the mass of a substance? My chemistry textbook only serves to confuse me and the Wikipedia article is aimed towards a ...
