Why does Matter cause inertia?

In summary, the conversation discusses the relationship between matter, inertia, and the Higgs Field. It is argued that matter does not cause inertia, but rather it is a property of matter. The limitations of physics in explaining the nature of matter and its properties are also mentioned.
  • #1
Thomas Eaton
2
0
So, one of my friends posed this question to me, with some background on vibrations on the Higgs Field, But, he also said that doesn't explain why matter causes inertia. As, if that accepted theory is true, it should simply create big, choppy waves. I apologize if my writing is confusing, and I thank those that take the time to answer this question.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
I don't think it's right to say matter causes inertia, but rather that inertia is a property of matter Similarly, matter doesn't cause length but rather length is a property of matter. So ... inertia isn't "caused" any more than length is.

Now, I'm no expert on these kind of fundamental questions so it could be that one of our more knowledgeable members will jump in with something better.
 
  • Like
Likes Bystander, russ_watters, vanhees71 and 1 other person
  • #3
I think, it's already the complete answer. Physics just describes nature, it cannot explain why nature is the way it is. As phinds points out the observables we assign to phenomena are just quantified properties of these phenomena. They have been found to be useful to describe nature and that's why we use them.
 
  • Like
Likes LLT71 and russ_watters

1. What is inertia and how does matter play a role?

Inertia is the property of matter that resists changes in its state of motion. Matter plays a role in inertia because it has mass, which is a measure of its resistance to changes in motion. The more mass an object has, the more inertia it has.

2. Why does matter have inertia?

Matter has inertia because of Newton's First Law of Motion, which states that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will stay in motion at a constant speed and direction, unless acted upon by an external force. In other words, matter has inertia because it resists changes in its state of motion.

3. How does the mass of an object affect its inertia?

The mass of an object directly affects its inertia. The more mass an object has, the more inertia it has. This means that objects with a larger mass will require more force to change their state of motion compared to objects with a smaller mass.

4. Does the type of matter affect its inertia?

Yes, the type of matter can affect its inertia. For example, a solid object will typically have more inertia than a liquid or gas of the same size and mass. This is because the particles in a solid are more tightly packed together, making it more difficult to change their state of motion.

5. Can matter have different levels of inertia?

Yes, matter can have different levels of inertia depending on its mass and physical properties. For example, a larger and denser object will have more inertia compared to a smaller and less dense object. Additionally, the shape and distribution of mass within an object can also affect its inertia.

Similar threads

  • Mechanics
Replies
22
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
910
  • Cosmology
Replies
2
Views
827
  • Other Physics Topics
Replies
13
Views
3K
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
49
Views
14K
Replies
52
Views
16K
Replies
9
Views
951
Replies
6
Views
133
Back
Top