A point particle (ideal particle or point-like particle, often spelled pointlike particle) is an idealization of particles heavily used in physics. Its defining feature is that it lacks spatial extension: being zero-dimensional, it does not take up space. A point particle is an appropriate representation of any object whose size, shape, and structure is irrelevant in a given context. For example, from far enough away, any finite-size object will look like and behave as a point-like object.
In the theory of gravity, physicists often discuss a point mass, meaning a point particle with a nonzero mass and no other properties or structure. Likewise, in electromagnetism, physicists discuss a point charge, a point particle with a nonzero charge.
Sometimes, due to specific combinations of properties, extended objects behave as point-like even in their immediate vicinity. For example, spherical objects interacting in 3-dimensional space whose interactions are described by the inverse square law behave in such a way as if all their matter were concentrated in their centers of mass. In Newtonian gravitation and classical electromagnetism, for example, the respective fields outside a spherical object are identical to those of a point particle of equal charge/mass located at the center of the sphere.
In quantum mechanics, the concept of a point particle is complicated by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, because even an elementary particle, with no internal structure, occupies a nonzero volume. For example, the atomic orbit of an electron in the hydrogen atom occupies a volume of ~10−30 m3. There is nevertheless a distinction between elementary particles such as electrons or quarks, which have no known internal structure, versus composite particles such as protons, which do have internal structure: A proton is made of three quarks. Elementary particles are sometimes called "point particles", but this is in a different sense than discussed above.
Property concentrated at a single pointEdit
When a point particle has an additive property, such as mass or charge, concentrated at a single point in space, this can be represented by a Dirac delta function.
Physical point massEdit
Point mass (pointlike mass) is the concept, for example in classical physics, of a physical object (typically matter) that has nonzero mass, and yet explicitly and specifically is (or is being thought of or modeled as) infinitesimal (infinitely small) in its volume or linear dimensions.
A common use for point mass lies in the analysis of the gravitational fields. When analyzing the gravitational forces in a system, it becomes impossible to account for every unit of mass individually. However, a spherically symmetric body affects external objects gravitationally as if all of its mass were concentrated at its center.
Probability point massEdit
A point mass in probability and statistics does not refer to mass in the sense of physics, but rather refers to a finite nonzero probability that is concentrated at a point in the probability mass distribution, where there is a discontinuous segment in a probability density function. To calculate such a point mass, an integration is carried out over the entire range of the random variable, on the probability density of the continuous part. After equating this integral to 1, the point mass can be found by further calculation.
The fundamental equation of electrostatics is Coulomb's law, which describes the electric force between two point charges. The electric field associated with a classical point charge increases to infinity as the distance from the point charge decreases towards zero making energy (thus mass) of point charge infinite.
In quantum mechanicsEdit
In quantum mechanics, there is a distinction between an elementary particle (also called "point particle") and a composite particle. An elementary particle, such as an electron, quark, or photon, is a particle with no internal structure. Whereas a composite particle, such as a proton or neutron, has an internal structure (see figure). However, neither elementary nor composite particles are spatially localized, because of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. The particle wavepacket always occupies a nonzero volume. For example, see atomic orbital: The electron is an elementary particle, but its quantum states form three-dimensional patterns.
Nevertheless, there is good reason that an elementary particle is often called a point particle. Even if an elementary particle has a delocalized wavepacket, the wavepacket can be represented as a quantum superposition of quantum states wherein the particle is exactly localized. Moreover, the interactions of the particle can be represented as a superposition of interactions of individual states which are localized. This is not true for a composite particle, which can never be represented as a superposition of exactly-localized quantum states. It is in this sense that physicists can discuss the intrinsic "size" of a particle: The size of its internal structure, not the size of its wavepacket. The "size" of an elementary particle, in this sense, is exactly zero.
For example, for the electron, experimental evidence shows that the size of an electron is less than 10−18 m. This is consistent with the expected value of exactly zero. (This should not be confused with the classical electron radius, which, despite the name, is unrelated to the actual size of an electron.)
Notes and referencesEdit
- H. C. Ohanian, J. T. Markert (2007), p. 3.
- F. E. Udwadia, R. E. Kalaba (2007), p. 1.
- R. Snieder (2001), pp. 196–198.
- I. Newton, I. B Cohen, A. Whitmann (1999), p. 956 (Proposition 75, Theorem 35).
- I. Newton, A. Motte, J. Machin (1729), p. 270–271.
- "Precision pins down the electron's magnetism".
- H. C. Ohanian, J. T. Markert (2007). Physics for Engineers and Scientists. 1 (3rd ed.). Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-93003-0.
- F. E. Udwadia, R. E. Kalaba (2007). Analytical Dynamics: A New Approach. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-04833-8.
- R. Snieder (2001). A Guided Tour of Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-78751-3.
- I. Newton (1729). The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. A. Motte, J. Machin (trans.). Benjamin Motte.
- I. Newton (1999). The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. I. B. Cohen, A. Whitman (trans.). University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-08817-4.
- C. Quigg (2009). "Particle, Elementary". Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Online. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- S. L. Glashow (2009). "Quark". Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Online. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- M. Alonso, E. J. Finn (1968). Fundamental University Physics Volume III: Quantum and Statistical Physics. Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-201-00262-0.
- Eric W. Weisstein, "Point Charge".
- F. H. J. Cornish, "Classical radiation theory and point charges". Proc. Phys. Soc. 86 427–442, 1965. doi:10.1088/0370-1328/86/3/301
- O. D. Jefimenko, "Direct calculation of the electric and magnetic fields of an electric point charge moving with constant velocity". Am. J. Phys. 62 (1994), 79.
- David L. Selke, "Against Point Charges". Applied Physics Research Vol 7, No. 6 (2015). doi:10.5539/apr.v7n6p138.