Inertia, Electromagnetism and Fluid Dynamics

It is shown that the vector potential created by a charged particle in motion acts as an ideal space flow that surrounds the particle. The interaction between the particle and the entrained space flow gives rise to the observed properties of inertia and the relativistic increase of mass. Parallels are made between the inertia property of matter, electromagnetism and the hydrodynamic drag in potential flow. Accordingly, in this framework the non resistance of a particle in uniform motion through an ideal fluid (Paradox of Dirichlet) corresponds to Newton's first law. The law of inertia suggests that the physical vacuum can be modeled as an ideal fluid. It is shown that the force exerted on a particle by an ideal fluid produces two effects: i) resistance to acceleration and, ii) an increase of mass with velocity which is due to the fluid dragged by the particle, where the bare mass of the particle at rest changes when in motion (“dressed” particle). From this theoretical ground, the inertia property of matter appears in a new light representing a promising avenue to create new propulsion concepts.