robinpike Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 (edited) The Higgs has been discovered. Does that count? Anything comprised of electrons can't be massless. The discovery of the Higgs is evidence, so yes, I agree it may count, as it was something predicted by theory. On reading the Wikepedia explanation of how the Higgs mechanism gives mass to particles, it is very complicated. I have a few questions: Does the Higgs field give particles inertia, i.e. is that what giving mass to a particle, means? If so, how the does the Higgs field avoid giving a particle continuous inertia that slows it down continuously? And how does the Higgs field give a particle inertia according to Relativity, as presumably, a moving particle is not moving in its own reference frame, and so what reference frame is the Higgs field in when it interacts with a particle? Edited April 16, 2013 by robinpike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timo Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 Does the Higgs field give particles inertia, i.e. is that what giving mass to a particle, means?In some sense, yes. But inertia is not really a prominent concept in quantum physics. If so, how the does the Higgs field avoid giving a particle continuous inertia that slows it down continuously?Inertia does not slow down objects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinpike Posted April 16, 2013 Author Share Posted April 16, 2013 In some sense, yes. But inertia is not really a prominent concept in quantum physics. Maybe I need to take a step back on this first... Do we understand how the electron and proton have the property of inertia? If so, what is the explanation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timo Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 (edited) <nevermind> Edited April 16, 2013 by timo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Przemyslaw.Gruchala Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 (edited) If so, what is the explanation? One particle is giving it's kinetic energy to other particle and slowing down. If entire kinetic energy is given, source particle is stopped, and other particle is accelerated. If just part of energy is given then both particles after collision are moving. With relativistic speeds particle colliding with other particle will create other particles. What will be created depends on amount of kinetic energy. http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/252/particle_creation.html v=0.36c will create additional pion 0 from proton and proton collision (or in other scenario pion+ and neutron and proton). v>0.9c will create additional proton and antiproton from proton and proton collision. It was nicely described in the article I gave link above. Edited April 19, 2013 by Przemyslaw.Gruchala Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 One particle is giving it's kinetic energy to other particle and slowing down. If entire kinetic energy is given, source particle is stopped, and other particle is accelerated. If just part of energy is given then both particles after collision are moving. With relativistic speeds particle colliding with other particle will create other particles. What will be created depends on amount of kinetic energy. http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/252/particle_creation.html v=0.36c will create additional pion 0 from proton and proton collision (or in other scenario pion+ and neutron and proton). v>0.9c will create additional proton and antiproton from proton and proton collision. It was nicely described in the article I gave link above. ! Moderator Note This thread is about the Higgs. Please stay on that topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekan Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 The Higgs "particle" has a short name. It'll have a short life-span. In 50 years, it'll be history, like Q-Rays, Protoplasm or the Currant-Bun Atom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 The Higgs "particle" has a short name. It'll have a short life-span. In 50 years, it'll be history, like Q-Rays, Protoplasm or the Currant-Bun Atom. ! Moderator Note No, that's not what I meant by on-topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekan Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 Sorry, I didn't realise the Higgs cannot be questioned, I suppose it's an article of faith, like Global Warming? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 Sorry, I didn't realise the Higgs cannot be questioned, I suppose it's an article of faith, like Global Warming? ! Moderator Note Not at all. But we have rules on this site, as you should know by now, and a science thread is for answering questions asked by the OP with mainstream science. If you want to propose that some aspect of science an article of faith, do it in speculations. Here, such a suggestion is off-topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekan Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Point taken - Speculations is more appropriate. I appreciate such a courteous telling-off, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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