Understanding the Elusive Nature of Mass: Can it Really be Destroyed?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of mass and whether it can be destroyed or created, exploring both theoretical and conceptual aspects. Participants inquire about the definitions and implications of mass and matter, as well as the potential for human intervention in creating matter.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether mass can be destroyed, with one asserting that mass cannot be destroyed while noting that matter can be a different case.
  • Another participant asks if humans can create matter, indicating that the answer may depend on the definitions of "create" and "matter."
  • A participant references a previous discussion on the topic, suggesting that the interpretation of "mass" is crucial, distinguishing between invariant mass and the sum of rest masses of constituents.
  • There is a suggestion that the complexity of mass should not be so challenging to understand.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the destruction of mass and the creation of matter, indicating that multiple competing interpretations exist regarding the definitions and implications of these concepts. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not reached a consensus on the definitions of mass and matter, and there are unresolved assumptions regarding the implications of these definitions on the questions posed.

Ravi4213
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I have one question that can we destroy the mass does anyone have answer?
 
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I have one question in my mind and that is can humans create the matter and if answer is yes than how?
 
Welcome to PF!

Is this a homework question? Have you done any reading on it?
 
No I had question in my mind so I have ask it and I haven't read about it and I am new on this site so I don't know the answer.
 
Ravi4213 said:
can humans create the matter

It depends on what you mean by "create" and what you mean by "matter."
 
Ravi4213 said:
I have one question that can we destroy the mass does anyone have answer?

Mass cannot be destroyed. Matter, on the other hand, is a different story.
 
Drakkith said:
Mass cannot be destroyed.

We had this conversation recently (https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/can-a-massless-photon-create-mass.787079/). In the end it boils down to what you mean by "mass". If you mean the invariant mass (as in the square of the total 4-momentum) then it cannot be destroyed. If you mean the sum of the rest masses of all constituents of a system, then yes it can.
 
Orodruin said:
We had this conversation recently (https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/can-a-massless-photon-create-mass.787079/). In the end it boils down to what you mean by "mass". If you mean the invariant mass (as in the square of the total 4-momentum) then it cannot be destroyed. If you mean the sum of the rest masses of all constituents of a system, then yes it can.

Mass shouldn't be allowed to be so complicated. :D
 

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