SilentSky23 Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 And that question is... Would a moving object with infinite mass exert an infinite force on other objects? If so, why? If not, why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 4 minutes ago, SilentSky23 said: And that question is... Would a moving object with infinite mass exert an infinite force on other objects? If so, why? If not, why not? An object with infinite mass would exert infinite gravitational force because the force is proportional to the mass: [math] F = G\frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} [/math] Whether it is moving or not makes no difference. Luckily, nothing can have infinite mass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentSky23 Posted November 28, 2019 Author Share Posted November 28, 2019 1 minute ago, Strange said: An object with infinite mass would exert infinite gravitational force because the force is proportional to the mass: F=Gm1m2r2 Whether it is moving or not makes no difference. Luckily, nothing can have infinite mass. What about non-gravitational forces? Like applied forces or other contact forces? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 1 minute ago, SilentSky23 said: What about non-gravitational forces? Like applied forces or other contact forces? None of those can be realistically evaluated for a non-physical case like this. If you invent an impossible thought experiment, then you can invent any answers you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentSky23 Posted November 28, 2019 Author Share Posted November 28, 2019 1 minute ago, Strange said: None of those can be realistically evaluated for a non-physical case like this. If you invent an impossible thought experiment, then you can invent any answers you like. May I ask why that is the case? Do you mean they can't or, there is just no knowledge of what happens? Let me ask another question: Does mass, not infinite, of course, exert contact forces at all, or does it not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sensei Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 1 minute ago, SilentSky23 said: May I ask why that is the case? In mathematics multiplication by infinity gives infinity as a result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 Just now, SilentSky23 said: May I ask why that is the case? Do you mean they can't or, there is just no knowledge of what happens? Because if you ask about something impossible, then there is no scientific or factual answer. You might as well as, "what would happen if the sun spontaneously turned into a chicken?" There is no reasonable answer, because it can't happen. Quote Let me ask another question: Does mass, not infinite, of course, exert contact forces at all, or does it not? What do you mean by "contact force"? Friction? Or something else? Mass is only indirectly related to friction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentSky23 Posted November 28, 2019 Author Share Posted November 28, 2019 2 minutes ago, Strange said: Because if you ask about something impossible, then there is no scientific or factual answer. You might as well as, "what would happen if the sun spontaneously turned into a chicken?" There is no reasonable answer, because it can't happen. What do you mean by "contact force"? Friction? Or something else? Mass is only indirectly related to friction. Applied or normal force, to be exact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sensei Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 2 minutes ago, Strange said: You might as well as, "what would happen if the sun spontaneously turned into a chicken?" There is no reasonable answer, because it can't happen. How come? Chickens are also stardust.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 2 minutes ago, SilentSky23 said: Applied or normal force, to be exact. Do you mean weight? The force an object sitting on a table exerts on the table, for example? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentSky23 Posted November 28, 2019 Author Share Posted November 28, 2019 2 minutes ago, Strange said: Do you mean weight? The force an object sitting on a table exerts on the table, for example? More like a hand pushing against a wall, if that counts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 Just now, SilentSky23 said: More like a hand pushing against a wall, if that counts. That is not really related to mass. I think you would need to be more specific about the conditions to provide any sort of answer. For example, if you push on a wall, then the wall pushes back on you. So to avoid moving you need to push against something else; the floor, maybe. In that case your mass will have some effect on how much friction your shoes have on the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentSky23 Posted November 28, 2019 Author Share Posted November 28, 2019 2 minutes ago, Strange said: That is not really related to mass. I think you would need to be more specific about the conditions to provide any sort of answer. For example, if you push on a wall, then the wall pushes back on you. So to avoid moving you need to push against something else; the floor, maybe. In that case your mass will have some effect on how much friction your shoes have on the floor. Alright, I now get it. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 This might help: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mass.html And you could browse this diagram for more: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Newt.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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