Talk:Mass/Archive 1
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"the attractive force all objects in the universe have for each other". The definition does not try to explain how these two seemingly unrelated phenomena can be related by this singular characteristic - "mass". It also does not even begin to explain what mass is -- how is arrises from an object. Omitting the fact that these basic questions about this basic phenomina is "sketchy" is to overstate our thin understanding. Addressing what we don't know is just as, if not more important than addressing what we do. Doing so stimulates the creative mind.
- Under GR, the fact that inertial and gravitational mass are the same can be reduced to the "principle of the universality of free fall" - basically a symmetry argument. As for declaring our lack of knowledge: well, we have a mathematical description of inertial and gravity which works in all but the most extreme situations (black holes and the big bang). Don't you think that counts for something? Our understanding of mass is on roughly the same footing as our understanding of the other three forces. With any scientific theory, someone can find a fundamental principle or assumption and say "but you don't know why that is the case". Theories which don't have such assumptions or principles are non-scientific. -- Tim
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When I wrote standards and special provisions for the Connecticut Department of Transportation's Bridge Design Unit, we tried to make them complete, brief and easy to understand: I think the following statement defining mass is what we might might have written if we had been asked to do so:
Mass can be defined in terms of either (a) "the mutual resistance of two particles, bodies or masses of material matter from simultaneously occupying and/ or passing throught the exact same place" and/or (b) "the mutual resistance of the penetration of a body resting on a planet's terra firma surface." Where the bodies physically exert mutual force on each other and are accelerated - their velocities forcibly changed - inversely to their weight, and/or massiveness.
One body cannot exert more (mutual) force on the other's nor can one exert greater impulse's than the other's. The impenetrability of matter, is the principle that relates these two seemingly unrelated phenomea, and makes this a scientific theory.
Respectfully submitted, Donald G. Shead 54 Chaplin St, Chaplin CT 06235 e-mail <dcshead@charter.net>