Physicists only please?

Question

Since square root functions have both a positive and negative answer, can negative mass exist? I refer to the relativistic mass/velocity equation that I cannot duplicate with this format. Physicists will know it. If negative mass DOES exist, does that imply negative momentum, force and energy in the Newtonian world

C'mon people...you're not thinking sideways...let's get some REAL physicists here...not amateurs.

Answer 1

I don't think it would lead to some sort of paradox if a negative mass particle existed, so it may be possible in principle. However, no such particle has ever been observed. An obvious candidate would be an antiparticle but, no, they have positive mass. Not all negative square root solutions to a physical equation correspond to something physical. The length of a square is the square root of its area. Have you every seen a square with a negative side length? Maybe they exist at some quantum relativity level or something. Never been seen, though.

There are other hypothetical particles that correspond to mathematical solutions to various equations of physics that have never been observed: Tachyons would have imaginary mass, for example, and would always travel faster than the speed of light in vacuum. They correspond to a perfectly good mathematical solution to special relativistic momentum and energy equations, but have never been seen. Magnetic monopoles (a particle with a diverging magnetic field) would be right at home with Maxwell's equations, and would even complete the symmetry between magnetic and electric field terms. Never been seen.

Answer 2

No. It's very similar to the theory of imaginary numbers - you can't actually get a negative square root, but by the use of one in equations you can get correct answers.

I think that in some equations negative mass would imply incredible gravity, or perhaps something like antimatter.

To answer the question in the most literal sense, though, there is no negative mass, just as there's no negative volume, or density. These are things that can be turned into numbers and used to derive totally correct answers, but they don't exist in the physical world. Personally I'd call it imaginary mass instead of negative. But that's just me. ^_^'

Honestly, if you look at it, negative numbers are a totally human concept. They don't exist either - you can't have negative two apples. It doesn't work. They are a purely human conceit. Useful in equations, non-extant in reality.

Hope I've been helpful.

Answer 3

I think what you really mean here is imaginary mass, which DOES exist in virtual particles.

Imagine two electrons scattering off of each other in their center of mass frame. There is a transfer of momentum between the particles, but not a transfer of energy. The relativistic energy equation for the photon, which carries the momentum between the electrons is

E^2=p^2+m^2

but E=0 so m^2=-p^2

m=ip

Although virtual photons "move" faster than the speed of light, measurements performed between spacelike intervals will not affect each other in QED, so causality is still preserved in the theory (Peskin p 28)




NOW BACK TO NEGATIVE MASSES
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FOR SPIN 1/2 PARTICLES
Multiplying the mass by (-1) in the dirac equation gives you a particle moving backwards in time, which can be reinterpreted as an antiparticle moving forward in time (Griffiths p222)

FOR SPIN ZERO PARTICLES
Multiplying the mass by (-1) in the Klein-Gordan equation doesn't change anything because the mass is always squared.

Answer 4

negative masses do not exist. Although the square root function does allow for two possible answers, in the case of mass and time the positive value will always be correct. As an example, trigonometric functions also often have more than one possible answer (the one your calculator gives you and the same answer plus 180 degrees) but depending upon the question you are being asked only one answer may be correct, you can usually determine which one by logically considering if a vector will be in the positive of negative y axis.

Answer 5

What equation are you thinking of that squares the mass?

The antiparticle has the same mass as the particle but opposite charge. I would expect them to gravitationally and electrostatically attract.

If a negative mass does exist, I couldn't guarantee that all laws of physics would apply just by changing the sign.

A lot of effort has gone into searching for new particles, experimentally and theoretically. There has been no hint that such a thing exists.

Answer 6

There is not negative mass or whatever, only in vector analysis a negative quantity signifies the opposite of the positive vector direction. The root example you gave is something totally different.
-2 squared is 4. So? What is your point?

P.S. How dare you call me an "amateur"?

Answer 7

The implication of negative mass from our perspective is that negative mass will be moving at a velocity greater than c. It can never slow down and reach c.

Positive and negative mass can not meet because the speed of light limit (for both) can not be crossed.

Answer 8

That's just for the mirror multiverse reflected through the big bang. The inhabitants spent a lot of effort looking forward through time to try to figure out what would happen in the final femtoseconds before the big crunch and trying hard to find a grand universal theory that would unify the strong, very strong, and magnetoelectric forces with that of levity.

Best of Luck - Mike

Answer 9

when ever a negative value appears in force, energy or momentum it refers to the direction the object is travelling relative to your starting point or origin, and NOT on the mass of the object, which is always a positive value unless you are in bizzaroworld.

Answer 10

??? I doubt that's genuine that "all of the in call for Theoretical Physicists are atheists". honestly it is not genuine traditionally. i'd think of that extra or less a million/3 of theoretical physicists are Christian. In my admittedly constrained journey, *maximum* physicists are Christians - yet, then, I stay in the U.S. - Jim, Bach Sci Physics 1989