Dirac's Rest Mass in Minowski Spacetime

In summary, the conversation discusses the idea of Dirac's rest mass being expressed as a fourth dimension and whether it could be incorporated into Minowski space-time as a distance in space. However, it is noted that this concept does not make sense and the idea of mass being a dimension of space is rejected.
  • #1
Bob Dylan
20
0
Dirac's rest mass seems to be expressed as a fourth dimension. If we were to try to include this rest-mass dimension into Minowski space time, could it be expressed as a distance in space? S^2=x^2+y^2+z^2+(rest-mass dimension)^2-(ct)^2?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Think about the dimensions in your expression! You'll see that it doesn't make any sense, and I'm pretty sure Dirac has never written such a nonsensical formula ;-).
 
  • Like
Likes bhobba
  • #3
Thank you again for the reply. Was I mistaken then in thinking of rest mass as a fourth dimension?
 
  • #4
Of course, how can a mass (dimension kg in the SI) be a fourth dimension of space (dimension metre in the SI)? It's simply not making the slightest sense! Where have you gotten this idea from?
 
  • #5
Bob Dylan said:
Dirac's rest mass seems to be expressed as a fourth dimension.

Where are you getting that from?
 
  • Like
Likes vanhees71 and bhobba

1. What is Dirac's Rest Mass in Minkowski Spacetime?

Dirac's rest mass in Minkowski spacetime refers to the rest mass of a particle as described by the Minkowski metric, which is used in special relativity to describe the spacetime interval between two events.

2. How is Dirac's Rest Mass calculated in Minkowski Spacetime?

Dirac's rest mass in Minkowski spacetime is calculated using the Minkowski metric, which takes into account the energy and momentum of a particle in relation to the speed of light. This calculation is essential in determining the mass of particles moving at high speeds.

3. What is the significance of Dirac's Rest Mass in Minkowski Spacetime?

Dirac's rest mass in Minkowski spacetime is significant because it is used in predicting and understanding the behavior of particles at high speeds. It is also a crucial concept in special relativity and plays a role in many other scientific theories.

4. How does Dirac's Rest Mass in Minkowski Spacetime differ from Newtonian mass?

Dirac's rest mass in Minkowski spacetime differs from Newtonian mass in that it takes into account the effects of special relativity, such as time dilation and length contraction. Newtonian mass is a constant value, while Dirac's rest mass can change depending on the speed of the particle.

5. Can Dirac's Rest Mass in Minkowski Spacetime be negative?

No, Dirac's rest mass in Minkowski spacetime cannot be negative. It is always a positive value, as it represents the intrinsic energy and momentum of a particle. A negative mass would violate the laws of physics and is not observed in nature.

Similar threads

I Mass Dimension of Fields (Momentum space)
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
2
Views
724
I What do the psi_3 and psi_4 components of the Dirac equation represent?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
8
Views
1K
I Changing the effective mass of an electron using electric potentials?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
1
Views
654
I How Do Neutrino Oscillations Reveal Their Masses?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
4
Views
1K
I Dirac Matrices and the Pythagorean Theorem
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
2
Views
1K
B Exploring the equivalences between mass, time and length
    • Other Physics Topics
Replies
8
Views
538
I Question about Stern-Gerlach experiment
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
12
Views
1K
I Geodesics using 2 Variables: Time & Radius from Mass
    • Special and General Relativity
Replies
1
Views
919
A Does Dim Reg really avoid a photon mass?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
10
Views
1K
I How Is the Matrix V Related to Dirac Spinors and Tensor Products?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
12
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top