This (arguably unhelpful) phrase seems to be taught across schools all over the world. What are some other phrases like this that are common ?

  • wuphysics87@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    Define the speed of light to be 1 (gaussian units). Then Einstein’s E=mc^2 becomes E=m. Mass is energy. In physics mass is not fundamental. Energy is.

    • Donjuanme@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      In biology mitochondria are not essential, hydrocarbons are. Life sprung up without mitochondria, but it wouldn’t be what it is without them. Chemistry is fundamental to biology, mitochondria aren’t, but I think you’d agree physics wouldn’t be what it is today without mass, nor would biology be without the mitochondria

      • wuphysics87@lemmy.ml
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        3 months ago

        Depends what you mean by “what it is today.”. Mass isn’t fundamental. It is a particle’s coupling to the Higgs Boson which generates mass. The Lagrangian of the Standard Model is an energy equation. Not a mass one.