Linked Questions
15 questions linked to/from Why do we have an elementary charge but no elementary mass?
4
votes
1
answer
425
views
Why is (rest) mass not discrete? [duplicate]
We say charge is discrete because it always has the form $q = n e$, where $n \in \mathbb Z$.
Similarly, I can say that $m = n N_a \mu$, where $n$ is number of moles, $N_a$ is avogadro's constant and ...
user115480
3
votes
3
answers
131
views
Is there a basic/elementary mass in the universe? [duplicate]
When speaking about electrical charges, it seems every particle either has a charge $+1$ or $-1$, in units of the electron charge. Therefore, we have a fundamental charge.
But what about mass? Is ...
user168013
1
vote
0
answers
48
views
What is the quantum of mass? [duplicate]
Just like charge, other physical quantities such as energy, angular momentum and mass are also quantized. But what if mass is quantized? What is the quantum of mass?
- 11
39
votes
8
answers
11k
views
Is (rest) mass quantized?
I learned today in class that photons and light are quantized. I also remember that electric charge is quantized as well. I was thinking about these implications, and I was wondering if (rest) mass ...
- 5,860
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there any idea why the electric charges of electron and muon are equal?
Is there any idea explaining why the electric charges of electron and muon are equal?
Edit:
The total charge of a particle is proportional to the integral of its own electric field flow through the ...
- 2,037
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is "charge discreteness"?
I assume it is some kind of quantity. Google only made things more confusing.
I get that it has something to do with circuits.
I also get what a discrete charge is. In fact, I thought charges were,...
- 153
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why do some particles have a greater mass than others?
The property of mass that almost every particle possesses comes from the Higgs Field. It is this field, which permeates all of space, that particles interact with and hence obtain mass.
But why do ...
- 4,339
0
votes
3
answers
674
views
What is the reason behind specific values for charge of electrons, protons?
Why do things like protons and neutrons have specific values. Also speed of light is a speed in which even if you go towards it, the speed does not vary. But why does light have to travel at speed?
- 189
1
vote
1
answer
413
views
Is there a synonymous or parallel equivalence for charge as there is for mass and energy? [closed]
I've read in multiple places that electric charge is absolutely indestructible (although I am aware that charge-carrying particles can be destroyed and created) and that the total amount of charge of ...
- 748
2
votes
3
answers
273
views
What is a charge? [duplicate]
If mass is the measure of the inertia of a body, then what is a charge?
Everyone tells that it is a fundamental property but i believe it must have a unique definition. Anyone know in this regard?
user111211
2
votes
1
answer
253
views
What is the mass in $\vec{\nabla}\cdot \vec{B}_g=\text{something}$ called if it could be non-zero?
Maxwell's equation for gravity has
$$\vec{\nabla}\cdot \vec{B}_g~=~0,$$
see Gravitoelectromagnetism in analogy with the electrodynamics.
What is the mass called that needs to make these equations ...
- 1,007
1
vote
3
answers
93
views
Why can't we have charge field?
I learnt that everything is made of field, there is the electron field that occupy the entire universe and it will produce an electron which is an excitation of the field. This electron interacts with ...
- 11.4k
1
vote
1
answer
70
views
What prevents us from considering the magnetic dipole of subatomic particles to be as fundamental as the charge
After the discovery that subatomic particles have a magnetic field, explanations were sought. Ultimately, it boiled down to the fact that electric circuit currents in the particles are responsible for ...
- 8,558
0
votes
0
answers
99
views
Do we understand why mass, charge or magnetic moment appear as quantized quantities?
There are two similar questions as the comment notified:
1. Reason for the discreteness arising in quantum mechanics?
2. How does quantization arise in quantum mechanics?
I could see two points there:
...
- 449
3
votes
0
answers
75
views
What is the origin of the electric charge? [duplicate]
What is the origin of the electric charge? In order to explain mass we had to postulate the existence of a quantum field (Higgs field), and we say that elementary particles get their mass by ...
- 1,379