What Connects Mass, Energy, and Time Translations?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the fundamental questions of why mass and energy exist, exploring their nature and relationship. Participants delve into philosophical inquiries about existence and the implications of physical concepts, including volume and time translations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Philosophical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the fundamental reasons for the existence of mass and energy, suggesting that these inquiries may not have definitive answers.
  • One participant asserts that mass is a condensed form of energy, while another challenges the validity of this relationship in answering the question of what composes mass.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty about the meaning of "we have" in the context of existence, suggesting a preference for the phrase "there exists."
  • There is a suggestion that questions about mass and energy may belong in a philosophical context rather than a purely scientific one.
  • Some participants mention the Higgs field as a concept related to the mass of particles, raising further questions about the nature of this field.
  • One participant notes that the question of why we have volume is also complex and tied to the concept of space.
  • A later reply introduces the idea that the lack of invariance under time translations may provide an explanation for the existence of energy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriateness of the questions being asked, with some advocating for a philosophical approach while others focus on scientific explanations. There is no consensus on the fundamental reasons for the existence of mass and energy, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various assumptions about the nature of existence and the definitions of mass, energy, and volume. There are unresolved questions regarding the implications of the Higgs field and the philosophical dimensions of the inquiries posed.

canopus
Why do we have mass? How can we explain it?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Scientist are unable to explain why mass is here.
 
[tex]E = mc^2[/tex] Mass is energy.
 
He is not asking that.
 
I see him asking this: What composes mass? The relation between mass and energy is not valid to answer that question. Mass is a condensed form of energy and not a composition of mass.
 
It would be she (;

Why do we have energy then? I can explain why we have volume, but when it comes to mass or energy, i can't find a word to say.
 
canopus said:
Why do we have mass?
canopus said:
Why do we have energy then?
In order to better understand your question, are you taking anything for granted? For example, are you also asking why we have time and space, and why we have the universe? By the way, I am not sure that I understand what you mean by "we have" rather than something such as "there exists".

I can explain why we have volume
If you explain why you think that "we have" volume, then prehaps we others will better understand the perspective behind your question.
 
As i undrestood, in physics, we can't ask ''why'', we can just ask ''how''... According to your sentences, i suspected what i know!
 
Why do we have volume?
 
  • #10
I think questions like these belong on the philosophy forum.
 
  • #11
Nenad said:
I think questions like these belong on the philosophy forum.
In my opinion this is the correct forum for these questions. E.g. I believe particle physicists are now saying that there is something called a Higgs field which is responsible for the mass of particles. As far as why we have volume, well that's a legitimate and involved question which includes the topic of space and that's something Einstein touches on in one of his relativity books.

Pete
 
  • #12
pmb_phy said:
In my opinion this is the correct forum for these questions. E.g. I believe particle physicists are now saying that there is something called a Higgs field which is responsible for the mass of particles. As far as why we have volume, well that's a legitimate and involved question which includes the topic of space and that's something Einstein touches on in one of his relativity books.

Pete

and what is responsibe for this higgs field?
 
  • #13
pmb_phy said:
...As far as why we have volume, well that's a legitimate and involved question which includes the topic of space and that's something Einstein touches on in one of his relativity books.

Pete

I am rather wondering how canopus explains volume. Personnally, I do find the question philosophically inclined.
 
  • #14
canopus said:
Why do we have energy then?
Because we aren't invariant under time translations.
 

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