Volume 19: Pages 305-313, 2006
Electrodynamics and the Mass‐Energy Equivalence Principle
Ezzat G. Bakhoum1
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of West Florida, Building 70/Room 116, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32514 U.S.A.
In this paper we investigate the link between classical electrodynamics and the mass‐energy equivalence principle, in view of the conclusions reached in E. Bakhoum, Phys. Essays 15, 87 (2002). A formula for the radius of a charged particle is derived. The formula predicts the radius of the proton correctly. The radius of the electron turns out to be a surprising quantity that solves the existing problems of electrodynamics, particularly the problem of the infinite self‐force of the electron. In addition, the classical radius of the electron (2.82 fm) will prove to be not a “radius” but rather the mean distance through which the retarded potentials of the self‐force act. An important conclusion is that there is no deficiency in the classical Abraham‐Lorentz model of the self‐force, but rather the problem lies with our intuitive understanding of what an elementary particle is. Other important conclusions are also discussed, including a physically sound explanation for why electric charges must be quantized (as opposed to Dirac's monopole theory).
Keywords: electrodynamics, mass‐energy equivalence, special relativity, radius of the electron, radius of the proton, Abraham‐Lorentz model of the electron, Coulomb's law of electrostatics
Received: November 4, 2003; Published Online: December 15, 2008
