All matter can be divided. This includes photons.

Thanks to Pro for proposing a debate on a scientific topic. I hope our debate will help clarify how science is done and what is known about the nature of matter and energy. The Standard Model Current physical theories claim that matter is composed of various types of indivisible parts, fewer than one hundred types, including the anti-particles. This is known as the Standard Model. The resolution asserts that the Standard Model is incorrect, and must be replaced by a model that encompasses infinite divisibility of matter. Pro has the burden of proving the resolution, the proposed new theory, is correct. Understand that the Standard Model is acknowledged to be incomplete. It does not explain General Relativity or dark matter. For example, the Standard Model does not encompass a particle for communicating the force of gravity. A graviton is hypothesized to do this. However, there is nothing in the resolution's new theory that overcomes the limitations of the standard model, and at the same time it contradicts the basis of indivisible particles of the standard model. It's possible than some theory could be built that features an infinite progression of more basic particles, but no such theory has been proposed, let alone proved. Pro's Sources Pro references (Pro R1.1) a wiki article that is not currently posted. Anyone can write a wiki article. To be taken as serious scientific theory, it must be published in a scientific journal, or reference published literature. Pro references (Pro R1.2) a religious site that full of scientific errors and makes no references to scientific literature. Pro finally references (Pro R1.3) economicsexpert.com as to matter being infinitely divisible. The link to the article is dead, but in any case there is no reason to suppose that an economist should have expertise in modern physics. Sources for the Standard Model By contrast, the Standard Model is well-documented in the scientific literature and it has made many predictions verified by experiment: Elementary particles are particles with no measurable internal structure; that is, they are not composed of other particles. They are the fundamental objects of quantum field theory. … Many families and sub-families of elementary particles exist. Elementary particles are classified according to their spin. Fermions have half-integer spin while bosons have integer spin. All the particles of the Standard Model have been observed, with the exception of the Higgs boson. [3] The reference [3] continues to comprehensively describe additional particles hypothesized to solve specific problems, but it does not suggest any theory in which matter is not described by particles nor does it reference any theory that posits an infinite number of particles. Mass of the Photon Current theory is that photons have no rest mass. The rest mass of the electron, a low-mass particle, is about 511 eV. Experimentally, the upper limit of the rest mass of the photon is 7 x 10^-17 eV, and there is additional evidence that it is less than 10^-26 eV. Pro's calculation seems to be based upon the mass equivalent of the energy of the photon, based upon mass-energy equivalence. That calculation is incorrect, because it does not deal with the rest mass. The error is explained, along with the measured upper limits, in [2]. In addition to the photon, the gluon has been confirmed to have zero rest mass. The photon transfers the electromagnetic force; the gluon transfers the strong force. The unconfirmed graviton is hypothesized to have zero rest mass. For the purposes of the resolution it doesn't matter whether the photon has a rest mass or not. There are 24 fundamental particles that have a rest mass which are nonetheless indivisible. All known fermions are dirac fermions; that is, each known fermion has its own distinct antiparticle. Fermions are the basic building blocks of all matter. They are classified according to whether they interact via the color force or not. In the Standard Model, there are 12 types of elementary fermions: six quarks and six leptons. [3] Pro's Contentions Pro's contentions are considered in the light of foregoing as follows: P1. Science says that all matter is divisible. No, science says that all matter is composed of indivisible fundamental particles. P2. Definition of matter is one that has mass. Not exactly. Matter is defined as being composed of fermions, all of which have mass. However, some of the bosons, which transmit forces, also have mass. P3. It has been proved that a photon has a mass of 1.8(10)-42g. No, there is no such proof and Pro cited none. Accepted science I referenced claims the rest mass is zero. P4. That means that a photon is matter. No the photon is a boson. Matter is composed of fermions. It's well known that photons must use separate rest rooms. P5. They said before that an atom was the lowest unit matter can be divided until they came up with what was inside of the atom. If so, it doesn't matter. Science abandons theories when they are proved wrong. P6. Quantum mechanics says that a quantum (photon) is the lowest unit, and that it cannot divide further. No. Quantum mechanics says there are many types of indivisible particles. Photons have no special status. The Resolution is Negated The theory proposed by the resolution apparently has not been scientifically formulated, hypothesized to solve any problems, tested by experiment, or in any sense proved. Pro must prove it true. Therefore the resolution fails. I don't know whether a theory of infinite divisibility is contradicted by current observations, but no such theory currently exists in science and there is no need for it. Standard Model http://en.wikipedia.org... What is the mass of a photon? http://www.phys.ncku.edu.tw... List of Particles http://en.wikipedia.org...