Why must charge be attached to mass?

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The discussion centers on the relationship between charge and mass, questioning why charge must be associated with mass. It highlights that the electron is the lightest charged particle with mass, suggesting that if it has mass, other charged particles likely do as well. The conversation touches on concepts from quantum field theory, including the potential for mass and charge to be separable under certain conditions, as seen in phenomena like spin-charge separation. Additionally, it mentions the Higgs mechanism, which provides mass to particles, and speculates on the implications of massless charged particles in extreme conditions, such as those present shortly after the Big Bang. Overall, the dialogue emphasizes the complexities and interconnections between mass, charge, and fundamental physics.
  • #31
Defennder said:
Well to be unnecessarily pedantic, he asked why charges cannot be massless. He didn't ask why mass did not have to be associated with charges, something which your link would bear more relevance to.

Light does not have restmass, but does it have charge?
 
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  • #32
No, light does not have charge, according to currently accepted theory or any efforts to detect it experimentally.
 
  • #33
ZapperZ said:
Where do you find charges "attracted" by mass? An electron is not attracted by a neutron.

Zz.

So you mean that the hydrogen and the deuterium lines are the same?
 

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