- #1
Aidyan
- 180
- 13
I think mass as a form of potential energy and am always told that this is wrong. According to wiki: "In physics, potential energy is the energy possessed by an object because of its position relative to other objects, stresses within itself, its electric charge, or other factors." Why do this "other factors" not fit for the notion of mass itself? A spring that is stretched acquires a potential energy and increases its mass. Binding energy among nuclei and quarks makes also the mass of neutrons and protons (99% of the mass is binding energy due to the strong force). After all potential energy is also said to be 'stored energy', which fits also in my understanding of mass. So, the question is, why can't we express the mass-energy equivalence also by saying that mass is a form of potential energy?