Just because an equation matches some observations doesn't mean that the equation represents something real. Newton's equations match a lot of observations but we know that they are not real -- they are merely approximation equations that describe emergent phenomena from a lower-level physics...
That is a tricky question that I think nobody can really answer for sure. I have no definite opinions. What I meant is that there is a difference between understanding a physical process and understanding the math necessary to make predictions about that physical process under certain...
Mass is a property that assists in describing the behavior of the particle. Like all properties, it is either a fundamental property, or it is a derived property. If it is a fundamental property, then by definition, nothing can possibly "give" or "explain" this property because it is a core...
Inertia is resistance to acceleration.
Inertia is at least proportional to mass.
The Higgs ocean is claimed to hinder the movement of certain particles by interacting with them.
Thus, based on these facts alone, we are forced to conclude that the Higgs interactions only occur for...
An object that is falling towards Earth is clearly accelerating relative to the reference frame of some point on the surface of Earth. However, I think that according to general relativity, it is not actually accelerating relative to the reference frame of absolute spacetime. In other words, I...
I'm not the one claiming that:
a) "the Higgs field is responsible for giving mass to particles"
b) "it does so by interacting with particles that are accelerating."
...I'm simply asking for explanation of these (seemingly well-accepted) claims of modern physics.
Well, from the definition, mass is precisely the resistance to acceleration:
Furthermore, according to Briane Greene, who arguably knows what he is talking about, the resistance of inertia/mass is due to interactions of quarks and electrons with the Higgs ocean that only occur when objects...
Forget faster than light inflation for just a moment...why is it that the space between celestial bodies is increasing, but celestial bodies aren't coming apart? It must be that the internal attractive forces of celestial bodies are working to counteract the local expansion of space, which for...
Inflation says that space between objects is expanding. Matter is held together by forces carried by bosons traveling at the speed of light. At the fringes of the universe inflation is warping space faster than the speed of light so it seems that there should be a horizon beyond which matter...
None of the other references I have read on GR have mentioned how/why time should behave like a spatial dimension when the universe was small. Are you recommending these sources because they specifically deal with this issue, or because they are just good resources for GR in general?
There...
I think Patrick probably identified what he was talking about here with the Wick rotation. I've never heard of it before, but the Wikipedia description sounds related...
To quote Hawking,
"Although Einstein's general theory of relativity unified time and space as space-time and involved...
These words are simply used in the English language to express relationships between events through the fourth dimension. Whether or not this dimension haves in a timelike or spacelike manner is irrelevant because we have no other word or tense to use, and it would only lead to more confusion...
Suppose that the sensor device is see-through and the observer is watching with a telescope that allows him to see in great detail what is going on inside that sensor. The sensor is governed by simple mechanical principles. If he does not observe the light to enter both sides of the sensor at...