# Is zero in mathematics the same as zero in physics? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-zero-in-mathematics-the-same-as-zero-in-physics/961206 "2022-03-16T19:54:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-zero-in-mathematics-the-same-as-zero-in-physics/961206/127 "2022-04-09T23:33:44Z")
I don’t understand [Einsteins’s aether theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_aether_theory) very well. If a photon actually has a very small mass, maybe redshift is caused by friction. If that were the case, would there be a preferred reference frame? Wouldn’t quantum mechanics preclude ‘frictionless’ space? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-zero-in-mathematics-the-same-as-zero-in-physics/961206/128 "2022-04-09T23:44:24Z")
One _Apple_ minus one _Apple_ might just equal one Intel PC. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-zero-in-mathematics-the-same-as-zero-in-physics/961206/129 "2022-04-10T12:01:46Z")
You’re not going to get any better answers to that than you’ve already gotten. No, that doesn’t make sense. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-zero-in-mathematics-the-same-as-zero-in-physics/961206/130 "2022-04-10T12:38:38Z")
It should be evident at this point that the OP is not going to accept any explanation that doesn’t fit his preconception that “zero” is somehow inadequate to physics. Thus he will endlessly what-if and cherry-pick what he sees as spooky or weird edge-cases to rationalize a need for a non-zero zero, and will demand that others do the (impossible) math to satisfy his curiosity. No sensible explanation can be sufficient when someone is trying to rationalize nonsense. There’s no point in proceeding here. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-zero-in-mathematics-the-same-as-zero-in-physics/961206/131 "2022-04-10T18:19:40Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > No sensible explanation can be sufficient when someone is trying to rationalize nonsense. There’s no point in proceeding here. I agree. I do appreciate the posts on this thread and the links. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-zero-in-mathematics-the-same-as-zero-in-physics/961206/132 "2022-04-10T20:45:07Z")
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