[jeffreyH (OP)]

If we define an inertial frame of reference, where an electron and proton are an equal and opposite distance away from a defined origin, will they meet at the origin?

[Bored chemist]

The electron will move much more than the proton.

[Bill S]

The electron will move much more than the proton.

Why?

[chiralSPO]

The electron will move much more than the proton.

Why?

Because the forces acting on the particles are equal in magnitude, and the proton has 1836 times the mass of the electron. Since F=ma, the electron must be accelerating 1836 times as much as the proton.

[jeffreyH (OP)]

I thought charge stood in for mass in those equations. The charges are equal so why does this involve the mass of the particles?

Scrub the above. It's the inertia.

[evan_au]

In semiconductors, charge is carried by the familiar electrons, but also by "holes", the absence of an electron.

Interestingly, these charge carriers have different effective masses, which affects their mobility (and can be higher or lower than the mass of an electron in a vacuum).
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_mass_(solid-state_physics)

[jeffreyH (OP)]

Ok so let"s now imagine two neutral particles. Same scenario as above. One particle with an electron's mass and the other with a proton's. Under gravitation would they meet in the middle?

[Janus]

Ok so let"s now imagine two neutral particles. Same scenario as above. One particle with an electron's mass and the other with a proton's. Under gravitation would they meet in the middle?

No. if M is the mass of one particle, and m the mass of the other, Then the force on each particle is F= GMm/d^2
The acceleration of the two particles would be F/M and F/m or A = Gm/r^2 and a=GM/r^2.

if a is the least massive of the two particles, it will have the greater acceleration and travel the greatest distance before impact.  It will also have the larger velocity on impact (relative to the original rest frame of both particles.   In fact, the ratio between the two velocities on impact will be inversely proportional to the Masses of the particles.  These is simple conservation of momentum.  Before they begin falling towards each other the total of the momentum of the system is zero in the initial frame,  at any given time afterwards, the total momentum will be MV+mv (with either v or V being a negative value).
If M is x times larger than m, then v must be x times larger than V for the total momentum of the system to remain zero.

[jeffreyH (OP)]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I needed a reality check since I have been cramming in so much mathematics.

[jeffreyH (OP)]

Ok so here is a hypothetical situation. We have a particle with mass m. We also have a field with with the ability to reduce mass over time. Yes I know there isn't but bear with me. If the mass term were to be totally canceled then the particle would have to move at light speed. What about as the mass approaches zero? Does it just sit there or will it start to move before it reaches zero mass? Think about it another way. Instead of reducing mass, what if a field altered inertia? Not over time but proximity to the source of the field?

[chiralSPO]

Does the hypothetical field change the mass into kinetic energy that the remaining particle?

Energy and mass can be interchanged by Einstein's famous formula, but you cannot change one without changing the other (in a closed system).

[jeffreyH (OP)]

Does the hypothetical field change the mass into kinetic energy that the remaining particle?

Energy and mass can be interchanged by Einstein's famous formula, but you cannot change one without changing the other (in a closed system).

I'm still thinking about that one.

[jeffreyH (OP)]

What if there is no such thing as inertial mass? What if inertia is a district entity that balances with mass in inertial frames and changes with acceleration? If a field disturbs this balance on the quantum scale then it would allow acceleration without a force being felt.

[jeffreyH (OP)]

One last point on this. When a particle is moving in a straight line at a constant velocity there is no resistance to that motion. Even at relativistic velocities. However it becomes harder to accelerate the greater the initial inertial velocity. Surely this is due to time dilation. Since the reactions of everything, including thrust, are being dilated. If so can we discard relativistic mass?