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The concept of mass is one of the most fundamental notions in physics, comparable in importance only to those of space and time. But in contrast to the latter, which are the subject of innumerable physical and philosophical studies, the concept of mass has been but rarely investigated. Here Max Jammer, a leading philosopher and historian of physics, provides a concise but comprehensive, coherent, and self-contained study of the concept of mass as it is defined, interpreted, and applied in contemporary physics and as it is critically examined in the modern philosophy of science. With its focus on theories proposed after the mid-1950s, the book is the first of its kind, covering the most recent experimental and theoretical investigations into the nature of mass and its role in modern physics, from the realm of elementary particles to the cosmology of galaxies. The book begins with an analysis of the persistent difficulties of defining inertial mass in a noncircular manner and discusses the related question of whether mass is an observational or a theoretical concept. It then studies the notion of mass in special relativity and the delicate problem of whether the relativistic rest mass is the only legitimate notion of mass and whether it is identical with the classical (Newtonian) mass. This is followed by a critical analysis of the different derivations of the famous mass-energy relationship E = mc2 and its conflicting interpretations. Jammer then devotes a chapter to the distinction between inertial and gravitational mass and to the various versions of the so-called equivalence principle with which Newton initiated his Principia but which also became the starting point of Einstein's general relativity, which supersedes Newtonian physics. The book concludes with a presentation of recently proposed global and local dynamical theories of the origin and nature of mass. Destined to become a much-consulted reference for philosophers and physicists, this book is also written for the nonprofessional general reader interested in the foundations of physics.

Gravitational mass --- Inertial mass --- Mass (Physics) --- Physics --- Philosophy. --- Force and energy --- Gravitation --- Inertia (Mechanics) --- Matter --- Mechanics --- Moments of inertia --- Weight (Physics) --- Properties --- Philosophy --- Physique --- Philosophie --- Physics - Philosophy

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This book deals with the problem of dynamics of bodies with time-variable mass and moment of inertia. Mass addition and mass separation from the body are treated. Both aspects of mass variation, continual and discontinual, are considered. Dynamic properties of the body are obtained applying principles of classical dynamics and also analytical mechanics. Advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are discussed. Dynamics of constant body is adopted, and the characteristics of the mass variation of the body is included. Special attention is given to the influence of the reactive force and the reactive torque. The vibration of the body with variable mass is presented. One and two degrees of freedom oscillators with variable mass are discussed. Rotors and the Van der Pol oscillator with variable mass are displayed. The chaotic motion of bodies with variable mass is discussed too. To support learning, some solved practical problems are included.

Dynamics. --- Mass (Physics). --- Time. --- Civil & Environmental Engineering --- Engineering & Applied Sciences --- Civil Engineering --- Mass (Physics) --- Hours (Time) --- Gravitational mass --- Inertial mass --- Dynamical systems --- Kinetics --- Geodetic astronomy --- Nautical astronomy --- Horology --- Force and energy --- Gravitation --- Inertia (Mechanics) --- Matter --- Mechanics --- Moments of inertia --- Weight (Physics) --- Mathematics --- Mechanics, Analytic --- Physics --- Statics --- Properties --- Mechanics, applied. --- Mechanics. --- Mathematics. --- Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. --- Classical Mechanics. --- Applications of Mathematics. --- Math --- Science --- Classical mechanics --- Newtonian mechanics --- Dynamics --- Quantum theory --- Applied mechanics --- Engineering, Mechanical --- Engineering mathematics --- Mechanics, Applied. --- Applied mathematics. --- Engineering mathematics. --- Engineering --- Engineering analysis --- Mathematical analysis