Rest Energy vs. Kinetic Energy in Extended Classical Mechanics (ECM): Beyond Classical and Relativistic Views.

Soumendra Nath Thakur                                                DOI
June, 01, 2025

The reinterpretation of the relativistic energy equation E = mc² within the Extended Classical Mechanics (ECM) framework offers deeper insight into the role of mass displacement during energy transitions. In ECM, the relativistic mass m is redefined as the displaced mass component, denoted ΔMᴍ. This effective mass Mᵉᶠᶠ includes not only the transition of ΔMᴍ from the original matter mass Mᴍ (i.e., a loss of −ΔMᴍ), but also encapsulates the interactional and energetic transformations that occur in high-energy phenomena such as nuclear reactions.

In standard relativistic physics, the rest mass m in E = mc² is often interpreted as being wholly converted into energy. However, in actual nuclear reactions, this is not entirely the case. The by-products of such reactions—alpha particles, beta particles, and residual nuclei—all retain a portion of the original rest mass. Hence, not all of the rest mass is converted into pure rest energy. Instead, a portion remains as bound rest mass ΔMᴍ, while the remainder is distributed into kinetic energy and radiative emission, particularly in the form of electromagnetic radiation.

Importantly, this emission includes particles traditionally considered massless—such as gamma rays and photons—which, in ECM, are interpreted as carrying apparent negative mass −ΔMᴍ, originating from internal energetic displacement rather than conventional rest mass.

Thus, in nuclear splitting:

Mᴍ_ɴᴜᴄᴇᴜꜱ = ΔMᴍ_ʀᴇꜱɪᴅᴜᴀʟ ɴᴜᴄᴇᴜꜱ + Mᴍ_ₐ,ᵦ + (−ΔMᴍ_ᵧ) + (−ΔMᴍ_ₚₕₒₜₒₙₛ)

This formulation reflects that both massive and massless reaction products arise from mass-energy redistribution, not from total annihilation or full rest-mass conversion. It also highlights that radiative products such as photons and gamma rays embody displaced energy with measurable effects, despite lacking rest mass in conventional terms.

In Classical Mechanics, energy is typically classified as either potential or kinetic. However, relativistic rest energy represents a more intricate form of transition—a fusion of potential-like binding effects and kinetic-like emissions—mediated through mass redistribution, emission of particles, and radiative losses. ECM captures this nuance by modelling rest energy release as a combination of physical mass displacement and interactional field effects, providing a coherent explanation for the emergence of both massive and massless products in high-energy processes.

Why is the speed of light what it is, and why not some other speed? - A repeat version.

Soumendra Nath Thakur 

June 01, 2025

This post addresses the question: “Why is the speed of light what it is, and why not some other speed?”

In contrast to relativistic theory, Extended Classical Mechanics (ECM) asserts that photons possess a negative apparent mass, which enables them to generate their own antigravitational force. This self-propelling mechanism allows photons to move freely through gravitational fields; gravity does not constrain their motion—instead, it contributes additional energy to photons when they traverse gravitational potentials.

Photons inherently tend toward unbounded velocities, theoretically approaching infinity. However, the limiting factor is not gravity, but rather a Planck-scale threshold, which sets the upper bound for meaningful physical quantities: a maximum possible frequency and a minimum meaningful wavelength. The ratio of these two (frequency to wavelength) defines the maximum meaningful speed, which is observed as the constant speed c. Thus, the speed limit of light is not imposed by spacetime curvature (as in relativity), but by dimensional and energetic constraints defined at the Planck scale, according to ECM.

Relativity maintains the constancy of c by enforcing a mutual compensation between a photon’s frequency and wavelength—this is mathematically consistent, but in ECM, it is viewed more as a convenient wave-based relation than a fundamental relativistic principle.

Accordingly, all electromagnetic waves propagate at the same speed because they are carried by photons, and the *photon itself is the mediator of the electromagnetic force. In ECM, it is the nature and energy constraints of the photon—not spacetime geometry—that determine and preserve this universal speed.