What are the equations explaining the mass of singularities?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Quds Akbar
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Mass Singularities
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the equations and concepts related to the mass of singularities in physics, exploring theoretical implications, mathematical definitions, and the nature of density in the context of singularities.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the existence of equations that "explain" the mass of singularities, suggesting that mass is determined by the amount of matter that has fallen into it, based on energy conservation.
  • Others argue that traditional methods of calculating mass, such as multiplying density by volume, do not apply to singularities due to their undefined nature.
  • One participant highlights the issue of density being a concept that applies to extended objects, not to singularities or point particles, suggesting that discussing density in this context is not meaningful.
  • Another participant points out that mathematical operations involving infinity and zero lead to breakdowns in conventional mathematics when applied to singularities.
  • A later reply introduces the idea of using distributions as a more general mathematical structure that could address some of the issues raised.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the applicability of traditional mass calculations to singularities, with no consensus reached on how to properly describe or understand the mass of singularities.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects limitations in the current understanding of singularities, particularly regarding the definitions and mathematical frameworks that apply to them. There are unresolved questions about the nature of density and mass in this context.

Quds Akbar
Messages
124
Reaction score
6
What exactly are the equations explaining why a singularity's mass is the way it is?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
There are no equations "explaining" anything.
Assuming singularities exist (we don't know), their mass is simply given by the amount of stuff that fell into it. This is energy conservation.
 
But since it's density exists and it has no volume then it's mass should exist by multiplying the density by volume but then the mass would be undefined, so is there any other way to describe it that is not an empty set ∅≠(0).
 
The mass is not found by multiplying the density by the volume. You can't do it. That's what it's called a singularity. It's the point where the math stops working.
 
Density as a concept works for extended objects, but not for things with no volume like a singularity or a point particle. One does not talk about the density of a singularity just as one does not talk about the density of one single electron.
 
So the technically peace breaks math and physics, because infinity divided by 0 should give us zero but that doesn't work. So math breaks down at this point, thanks, that was the answer I was looking for.
 
Well, you can go from functions to distributions (more general structures compared to functions), where those things can get fixed in mathematics.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
920
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
6K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
5K
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
4K