The limits of mathematics in physics

Mathematics is considered the language of physics. Starting from idealizations and kinematics, geometric-mathematical physics with paradigms such as flexible spacetime and dark energy has emerged whose physical reality has not been clarified. By analyzing processes regarding their causes and the fun...

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Main Authors: Grit Kalies, Duong D. Do
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2024-11-01
Series:AIP Advances
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0237600
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author Grit Kalies
Duong D. Do
author_facet Grit Kalies
Duong D. Do
author_sort Grit Kalies
collection DOAJ
description Mathematics is considered the language of physics. Starting from idealizations and kinematics, geometric-mathematical physics with paradigms such as flexible spacetime and dark energy has emerged whose physical reality has not been clarified. By analyzing processes regarding their causes and the functional dependencies of energies, this work identifies shortcomings in the basic energy concepts of physics, which cannot be remedied with mathematics. While formal transformations of process equations such as integration are mathematically correct, they do conceal vital physical information, suggesting that mathematics should be used with caution. We propose a physically justified approach that reconciles the mechanical and thermodynamic energy concepts and provides a revised interpretation of E = mc2. Our results suggest that geometric approaches were built too early on a shaky physical foundation, leading to undesirable developments in recent centuries. The language of physics should be physics, not just mathematics.
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series AIP Advances
spelling doaj-art-375ce4b90f3e48f3a5342e131e57c54b2024-12-04T16:59:17ZengAIP Publishing LLCAIP Advances2158-32262024-11-011411115225115225-1610.1063/5.0237600The limits of mathematics in physicsGrit Kalies0Duong D. Do1HTW University of Applied Sciences Dresden, 01069 Dresden, GermanyThe University of Queensland QLD, 4072 Brisbane, AustraliaMathematics is considered the language of physics. Starting from idealizations and kinematics, geometric-mathematical physics with paradigms such as flexible spacetime and dark energy has emerged whose physical reality has not been clarified. By analyzing processes regarding their causes and the functional dependencies of energies, this work identifies shortcomings in the basic energy concepts of physics, which cannot be remedied with mathematics. While formal transformations of process equations such as integration are mathematically correct, they do conceal vital physical information, suggesting that mathematics should be used with caution. We propose a physically justified approach that reconciles the mechanical and thermodynamic energy concepts and provides a revised interpretation of E = mc2. Our results suggest that geometric approaches were built too early on a shaky physical foundation, leading to undesirable developments in recent centuries. The language of physics should be physics, not just mathematics.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0237600
spellingShingle Grit Kalies
Duong D. Do
The limits of mathematics in physics
AIP Advances
title The limits of mathematics in physics
title_full The limits of mathematics in physics
title_fullStr The limits of mathematics in physics
title_full_unstemmed The limits of mathematics in physics
title_short The limits of mathematics in physics
title_sort limits of mathematics in physics
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0237600
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