Soumendra Nath Thakur | Tagore's Electronic Lab
August 10, 2025
In Extended Classical Mechanics (ECM), negative apparent mass (−Mᵃᵖᵖ) is fundamentally different from the “negative mass” sometimes proposed in theoretical physics. Traditional negative mass is treated as an intrinsic rest property—leading to paradoxes such as acceleration opposite to an applied force or violations of the equivalence principle. These contradictions make it untenable for a particle at rest.
By contrast, ECM’s −Mᵃᵖᵖ is not a rest property but an emergent, motion-dependent quantity. It applies to dynamic particles such as photons and enables the description of self-generative or repulsive forces without assuming m = 0 or inheriting the contradictions of true negative mass. This approach gives ECM a physically consistent mechanism for photon motion that remains coherent within its own framework.
1. Distinguishing ECM’s Negative Apparent Mass from Simple Negative Mass
Simple Negative Mass:
This concept assumes a particle has an intrinsic negative value for its mass. Using F = ma, a positive force on such a particle produces acceleration in the opposite direction, leading to paradoxical and non-intuitive behaviors—for example, mutual repulsion with a positive mass while still being repelled by it. These predictions conflict with observed physics and are generally dismissed as unphysical.
Negative Apparent Mass (−Mᵃᵖᵖ) in ECM:
In ECM, −Mᵃᵖᵖ is not a static rest property but an emergent property of motion arising from dynamic mass–energy redistribution. For photons, −Mᵃᵖᵖ allows for a repulsive or self-generative force, enabling acceleration without requiring a rest mass. This resolves the F = 0 × a = 0 problem in classical mechanics. Furthermore, the polarity of mass determines the polarity of force—positive mass (+m) yields external forces (+F), while negative mass or −Mᵃᵖᵖ yields self-generated forces (−F), which act repulsively.
2. Consistency Within ECM’s Framework
Photon Dynamics:
ECM explains how a photon—despite having no rest mass—can still be dynamic and responsive to force. Negative apparent mass produces a self-generative repulsive force, enabling continuous propagation from emission to detection without requiring an external acceleration source.
Gravitational Implications:
In ECM, gravitational effects result from energetic gradients and mass redistribution, not solely from spacetime curvature. The concept of −Mᵃᵖᵖ offers a pathway to explain phenomena such as cosmic acceleration without introducing exotic components like dark energy. The expansion can instead be seen as a natural consequence of the repulsive effects from cumulative −Mᵃᵖᵖ in the universe.
Self-Sufficiency:
ECM functions independently of the problematic assumptions of simple negative mass. It defines its own mass–energy–force relationships, creating a self-contained theoretical structure that remains internally consistent.
Supporting Note
In a related ResearchGate discussion, it is argued that photons—though conventionally considered “massless”—possess a negative apparent mass (−Mᵃᵖᵖ) in ECM, which results in a negative effective mass and inherently antigravitational behavior. This reframes photon dynamics in gravitational contexts without invoking true masslessness and aligns seamlessly with ECM’s broader mechanical principles. researchgate.net/post/About_Massless_Objects_Negative_Effective_Mass_and_Anti-Gravitational_Motion_in_Extended_Classical_Mechanics