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Negative Mass UPSC Notes: Meaning, Working, Potential Uses & More
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Negative mass is an imaginary matter in theoretical physics. Negative mass is the opposite of normal matter. Recently a major breakthrough was achieved in the field of Negative mass when some scientists in the USA created a fluid with the properties of Negative mass. The concept of negative mass is a hypothetical idea in physics that has sparked considerable speculation and discussion. Although the notion of negative mass might appear counterintuitive, physicists have been exploring this concept for many years. It has been found to carry intriguing and potentially revolutionary implications for our comprehension of the universe.
Negative mass UPSC is an important topic UPSC IAS exam Prelims- General Studies Paper 1 and Mains-General Studies Paper 3.
This article on Negative Mass UPSC will discuss the concept of negative mass in detail as required for the UPSC exam.
What is Negative Mass?
Negative mass is a theoretical concept in physics that refers to matter with mass values that are opposite in sign to the conventional positive mass. Positive mass contributes to gravitational attraction and resists acceleration. However, negative mass would behave counterintuitively: if subjected to a force, it would accelerate in the direction opposite to the applied force. The gravitational interactions involving negative mass are particularly intriguing. For instance, if a negative mass and a positive mass were near each other, they would theoretically exhibit unusual behavior due to their different mass signs. Negative mass has not been observed in the real world and remains purely speculative. It continues to be a subject of interest in theoretical physics and cosmology, posing fascinating questions about the nature of gravity, inertia, and the fundamental structure of the universe.
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Has Negative Mass been Proven?
Yes, at Washington State University in the US, physicists under controlled conditions in a laboratory have created negative mass.
- The physicists have achieved a breakthrough by creating a fluid with negative mass.
- This fluid accelerates in the opposite direction to the direction of the push.
- Rubidium atoms were used in this experiment, and Bose-Einstein condensate also played a crucial role.
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Working of Negative Mass
If the negative mass does exist, then according to the special relativity theory of Albert Einstein, it must travel at a speed that is much faster than the speed of light in a vacuum.
- Neutrinos are particles that travel faster than the speed of light; therefore, they must have a negative mass.
- Negative mass reacts opposite to all forces, i.e. about, negative mass, force and acceleration are opposite.
- When we push a negative mass, it moves towards us. When we pull on negative mass, it moves away from us.
- Under the influence of gravity, the negative mass falls. If we try to hold a piece of negative mass in our hands, it will fall through our hands.
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Conditions for Negative Mass
Peter Engels and his team experimented with generating negative mass conditions. They achieved this by cooling rubidium atoms to just above absolute zero, creating a Bose-Einstein condensate, where particles move slowly and behave like waves due to quantum mechanics. These particles synchronized and formed a superfluid, which flows without energy loss.
The process involved lasers to slow down the particles and allow hot, high-energy particles to escape, further cooling the material. The lasers trapped the atoms within a small bowl, and breaking the bowl caused the rubidium to rush out, expanding as the rubidium in the centre pushed outward.
A second set of lasers was used to alter the atoms' spin and make them move back and forth to create negative mass. As a result, the rubidium rushed out with negative mass properties, behaving as if it had negative mass. When pushed, it accelerated backwards, giving the appearance of hitting an invisible wall, according to the researchers.
Is Negative Mass Faster than Light?
There is almost an established view that nothing can travel faster than light. The famous scientist Albert Einstein also subscribed to this view in his research on the Theory of Relativity.
- While neutrinos are particles that are set to have negative gravity associated with negative mass.
- Neutrinos travel at a speed greater than the speed of light. Therefore it is very much possible that negative mass travels faster than the speed of light.
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If Negative Mass Exists, What will be its Uses?
If a negative mass exists, it will have the following potential uses:
- Negative mass would be repelled by objects of positive mass, such as the earth.
- Negative mass can be used as a form of anti-gravity.
- It could be used to keep the unstable wormholes open by negatively affecting the effect of gravity.
- It could also help in travelling faster than the speed of light.
- It could also make zero-inertial vehicles, bottomless bags, and other interesting things.
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Conclusion
The startling revelation regarding negative mass by the Washington State University scientists opened a new dimension of debate In theoretical physics. Negative mass is allowed by the general theory of relativity. Therefore, extensive research must be done on the subject to understand its pros and cons for Earth and humanity.
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Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants
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Negative Mass FAQs
Can negative mass be created?
Yes under controlled conditions in the laboratory negative mass can be created.
Does negative mass have gravity?
Under the influence of gravity, a negative mass would experience a force in the opposite direction of gravitational force and it will also generate a negative gravitational field which would repel normal mass.
Can we lift negative mass?
If we try to lift negative mass it will fall off right through our hands.
Is a black hole a negative mass?
Under certain conditions, regions of negative energy density may collapse into a black hole. Thus, the exterior black hole has a negative mass.
Does matter with a negative mass exist?
As of today, there is no known matter that exists with a negative mass. But going with the idea that the universe has net zero energy, it can be assumed that the net mass of the universe is zero.
When a body becomes negatively charged, what happens to its mass?
When a body becomes negatively charged, there is no change in its mass. The mass of an object remains the same regardless of its charge.
Is dark matter negative mass?
Dark matter is not a negative mass. Dark matter refers to a hypothetical form of matter that does not interact with light or other electromagnetic radiation. Its exact nature is still unknown.
Give a note on negative mass flow rate.
Negative mass flow rate refers to the flow of a substance or fluid in the opposite direction compared to the conventional positive flow direction. It can occur in certain situations, such as in reverse flow or when there is a change in the direction of flow due to external factors.