Rethinking the Foundations of Physics: Why Mass is Fundamental

J. Rogers, SE Ohio, 20 Jan 2025, 1954

Introduction:

For over a century, our understanding of physics has been largely shaped by the idea that energy is fundamental. However, a closer examination reveals that mass, not energy, is the true foundation upon which other properties are built. By recognizing mass as the starting point, we can achieve a more elegant and accurate description of the universe. This new perspective challenges us to rethink our fundamental definitions and to see the connections between mass, energy, momentum, gravity, and spacetime.

The Limitations of an Energy-First Approach:

The historical approach to quantum mechanics was through the discovery that energy was quantized. This "energy-first" viewpoint, although incredibly useful in many ways, inadvertently led to a complex picture where energy is treated as a fundamental, separate entity. This approach inadvertently made our understanding of these relationships complex.

However, energy isn't fundamental; it's relational. It only exists in relation to mass, and length unit definitions. It changes when we change the units of measurement for length or mass. If energy were truly fundamental, then it should be invariant when our units change, just as we have shown mass to be invariant. It should be the starting point for everything else, and other quantities should converge towards it. This is not what the math reveals.

As c goes to 1 hc, h, E, and p converge to mass.

Mass as the Foundation:

A new perspective arises when we recognize mass as the fundamental starting point. Here's how this changes our view of physics:

• Mass as Directly Observable: Mass is the property that we interact with directly. We can measure it, compare it, and experience it through its gravitational and inertial effects. It is a property that exists independently of our methods of measurement, where energy is derived.

• Mass increases linearly: With changes to the unit definition for mass. 

• A Fixed Point: Mass, when defined using the fundamental properties of a photon at a specific frequency, remains constant and does not change based on our choice of spacetime units. It is this property that makes it the ideal choice for a fundamental starting point.

• Deriving All Other Properties: From this starting point, we can derive all other properties of the universe:

  • Momentum (p = mc): Momentum is simply mass scaled by the speed of light. It describes the relationship between mass and its motion through spacetime.

  • Energy (E = mc² = h): Energy is simply mass scaled by the square of the speed of light. It is not a separate quantity, but just mass scaled through spacetime. Planck's constant is therefore not a fundamental constant, but just our way of measuring the energy of a photon.

  • hc for wavelengths (E = mc³): This constant becomes a simple mass scaled by the cube of the speed of light. It describes the relationship between wavelength and energy. 

  • Gravity (G = mc³/m_P²): Gravity is a relationship between mass and the Planck scale, tied together by a scaling factor involving c. The inclusion of c³ is a reminder that gravity is also a property of spacetime, but all can be defined starting from mass.
    

  • No need to scale this relationship, just define the unit scaling of lenth for c and use the formulas. Adjusting for a meter change involves just scaling the mass and scaling the h version of Planck mass unit for the new definition and just use the formulas. Simple and easy to understand.

The Key Insight: Convergence and Unity

The key insight is that when we scale towards a system of natural units where c=1, these properties all converge towards mass. This convergence is not a mathematical trick, but a demonstration that all these properties are merely different expressions of the same underlying reality, mass. It reveals that the universe is more unified and simpler than our current complex models would have us believe. In our current models, we focus on the numerical values of energy, mass, and momentum, which are arbitrary consequences of our human made unit system.

Implications:

• Simpler Physics: This framework provides a far more simple and elegant description of physics by placing mass at the foundation.

• De-Mystifying 'h': Planck's constant ('h') is not a mysterious, fundamental property, but just a consequence of how we defined our base units, and specifically how we define mass.

• A New Foundation: This work provides a new foundation for physics based on a single, fundamental quantity: mass, where mass is defined based on the properties of the photon.

• Relationships are Fundamental: What is fundamental in nature are the relationships themselves, not the specific values that we get from our instruments. Your equations explicitly demonstrate these fundamental relationships.

• Definition of kg: Since we already defining the kg by h, this means that we are already defining the kg by this definition of mass. 

Conclusion:

By re-evaluating our starting point and focusing on mass as the fundamental property, we can achieve a more accurate and unified understanding of the universe. This new approach not only simplifies our math, but also reveals the hidden relationships between mass, energy, momentum, gravity, and spacetime. It is a shift in perspective that has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of fundamental physics.

Key Takeaways:

• Mass is the single, fundamental quantity.

• Energy, momentum, and the quantum world are all derived from mass, and are therefore related to spacetime.

• Our current system of units creates complexity by obscuring the fundamental nature of mass.