Mass or attractive force responsible for not flying away

[rajeshmarndi]

Physicist say because of mass particles do not fly off else they wouldn't have formed atom.

I can understand because of mass particles slow down but it is due to attractive force particles are bound together.

 

[mfb]

Physicist say because of mass particles do not fly off else they wouldn't have formed atom.

??

I can understand because of mass particles slow down

No.

but it is due to attractive force particles are bound together

Yes.

 

[CWatters]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_interaction

 

[rajeshmarndi]

So what does physicist mean when they say it is because of particle mass they do not fly off like photons do and wouldn't have formed physical matter or our body.

 

[Drakkith]

So what does physicist mean when they say it is because of particle mass they do not fly off like photons do and wouldn't have formed physical matter or our body.

I believe massless particles would experience an infinite acceleration from ANY force applied, causing them to move at light speed everywhere. Mass causes them to resist any changes in their motion and keeps them from just zipping back and forth due to any interaction.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Physicist say because of mass particles do not fly off else they wouldn't have formed atom.

I can understand because of mass particles slow down but it is due to attractive force particles are bound together.

Is this question in response to the recent new articles on the Higgs Boson? You need to read that stuff with reservation.
Also we have a rule about avoiding 'text-speak' on this forum. Please spell well-known words correctly; it is a matter of courtesy.
(of course, typos tend to be forgiven)

 

[mfb]

Gluons have no mass, but they do not "fly away like photons".

when they say it is because of particle mass they do not fly off like photons do

Can you give a specific source where this is said?

I believe massless particles would experience an infinite acceleration from ANY force applied

How do you define acceleration for massless particles? They always fly at the speed of light, and in terms of deflection which clock do you use?

 

[Drakkith]

How do you define acceleration for massless particles? They always fly at the speed of light, and in terms of deflection which clock do you use?

I don't think you can define it, which makes it nonsensical to talk about. In the normal F=MA equation you end up dividing force by zero to find the acceleration, leading to nonsense. Or the implosion of reality!

Gluons have no mass, but they do not "fly away like photons".

Interesting, I was not aware gluons were massless. Why wouldn't they "fly away" like photons though? Because of color charge?

 

[mfb]

Their color charge is important here, right. Emitting a gluon is not possible in terms of energy - the strong force is too strong (confinement).

 

[Drakkith]

Their color charge is important here, right. Emitting a gluon is not possible in terms of energy - the strong force is too strong (confinement).

The gluons in a nucleon are virtual correct?

 

[mfb]

They cannot live long and they cannot fly away, so: Right.