Mass: Uniting Quarks & Antimatter in Unexpected Ways

In summary, when combining matter (quarks) and antimatter, mass behaves differently than other quantum numbers. The mass adds together instead of canceling out, and anti-particles have positive mass rather than negative mass. This is due to the fact that mass is the magnitude of the energy-momentum four-vector, and energy is always positive. This concept may seem strange, but it is supported by experimental evidence.
  • #1
talanum52
19
3
Homework Statement
Why does mass behave differently?
Relevant Equations
N/A
Mass behaves opposite that of other quantum numbers when combining matter (quarks) and antimatter. Why?
 
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  • #2
Is this really a homework question? In any case, the question is not clear.

What does "opposite" mean here? And mass is not a quantum number...
 
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  • #3
DrClaude said:
Is this really a homework question? In any case, the question is not clear.

What does "opposite" mean here? And mass is not a quantum number...
It adds together, rather than cancel.
 
  • #4
talanum52 said:
It adds together, rather than cancel.
Anti-particles have positive mass, not negative mass.
 
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  • #5
jbriggs444 said:
Anti-particles have positive mass, not negative mass.
Why?
 
  • #6
talanum52 said:
Why?
Because "mass" is the magnitude of the energy-momentum four-vector which is always positive.

In simpler but almost completely equivalent terms, because ##E=mc^2## (in a particle's rest frame) and energy is always positive.

And because the notion of particles that speed up when you apply a retarding force is not very sensible.

And because experiment shows that they have positive mass.
 
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  • #7
O.K. Thank you.
 
  • #8
DrClaude said:
Is this really a homework question?
No, the OP has the recent days posted several of their questions in the HW forum which actually belongs in the technical forums (some threads got deleted because of OP is working on their own model of particles.)
 
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