Does the Higgs mechanism explain the equivalence of gravitiational and

In summary, the Higgs mechanism does not explain the problem of equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass. It is used for spontaneous symmetry breaking and can lead to mass terms for fermions. There is no single accepted definition of mass. The equivalence principle, which states that small objects in space-time follow the same geodesic lines, supports the notion of equivalence between inertial and gravitational mass. This principle is based on strong experimental evidence and is considered a postulate in Einstein's theory of General Relativity.
  • #1
agnishom
4
0
I am not well versed in the idea of Higgs mechanism. However, I was wondering if it does explain the problem of equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass.

Also, what is the modern accepted definition of mass?
 
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  • #2
No it doesn't. It has nothing to do with this kind of question. The Higgs Mechanism is an idea basically used to cause Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking, by letting the Higgs field to acquire a vacuum expectation value (so it's a spin-0 /scalar field). Then the allowed interactions of the higgs field to the fermions, can lead to mass terms. These masses are the rest masses.
There is not only one definition... it depends on what type of mass you are talkin about.
 
  • #3
So, what is the state of the art theory that explains that problem?A mathematician knows how to do it, but he cannot
 
  • #4
What do you mean by art theory?
The problem of what? the equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass? I don't know if there's a theorem, since they are defined in a different way. They just happen to be (by experiment) extremely close to each other (if not equal).
 
  • #5
I suggest reading about the equivalence principle on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Equivalence_principle

(Small) objects in space time follow the same geodesic lines as long as no external force acts upon them (given the same initial position and velocity). Note that gravity is not a force in GR, but the cause of the space-time geometry giving rise to the form of the geodesics.
 
  • #6
The principle of equivalence between inertial and gravitation mass is, as the name says, a "principle". It doesn't have a proof but it has very strong experimental evidences. Einstein considered it as a postulate of his theory of General Relativity.
 

FAQ: Does the Higgs mechanism explain the equivalence of gravitiational and

1. What is the Higgs mechanism?

The Higgs mechanism is a theory in particle physics that explains how particles acquire mass through interactions with a field called the Higgs field. This theory was proposed by Peter Higgs and other scientists in the 1960s.

2. How does the Higgs mechanism work?

The Higgs mechanism works by giving particles mass through interactions with the Higgs field. The Higgs field is present throughout the universe and particles interact with it to varying degrees, which determines their mass. The more a particle interacts with the Higgs field, the more massive it becomes.

3. Does the Higgs mechanism explain the equivalence of gravitational and electromagnetic forces?

No, the Higgs mechanism does not directly explain the equivalence of gravitational and electromagnetic forces. However, it is a crucial piece of the puzzle in understanding the fundamental forces in our universe and how they interact with particles.

4. What is the relationship between the Higgs mechanism and the Standard Model of particle physics?

The Higgs mechanism is an essential component of the Standard Model of particle physics. It is the mechanism that gives particles their mass, which is a fundamental property of particles in the Standard Model.

5. How does the Higgs mechanism relate to the concept of symmetry breaking?

The Higgs mechanism is an example of spontaneous symmetry breaking, where a system that appears symmetric at first glance is actually not. In the case of the Higgs mechanism, the symmetry is broken by the interactions between particles and the Higgs field, resulting in particles having different masses.

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