Inertail versus gravitational mass

AI Thread Summary
Inertial mass is defined as the resistance to changes in motion, while gravitational mass is the force that attracts objects to one another. Experiments have confirmed that these two types of mass are equivalent, despite their differing roles in motion. The discussion raises the idea that mass could be viewed as a resistance to a natural scattering motion of objects, but this perspective does not resolve the inherent contradiction of mass both resisting and causing motion. Ultimately, the equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass enhances the understanding of gravitational laws. The relationship between these two concepts is fundamental to physics.
johnxxx
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Hi,

Inertial mass can be understood as the resistance to change motion. Gravitational mass exerts a pull on every other object (and as a result of action-reaction force law also on itself). It has been shown by experiment that both mass concepts are the same. But it looks strange that one quantity is a resistance to motion and cause of motion at the same time.

Would it not be more logical to assume that there exists a natural motion of scattering all things and that mass is a reverse motion (a kind of friction) that resists this natural motion of scattering.
 
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No, it wouldn't.

For one thing, your version of mass still has the same problem, that mass is both stopping the object from moving, yet causing other objects to move.

In fact, that gravitational and inertial mass is the same makes the laws of gravity really cool
 
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