- NEW!
by Tinkerbell on February 21st, 2008
Could time be defined as a perception of particle activity?
by Theremier on April 1st, 2011
| 1 person likes this
If I could prove using algebraic equations that Nickelback>all other bands, would you still not be convinced?
by Want To Sleep With A Miner on May 21st, 2011
| 2 people like this
Do you pay a focus group to read your things before you move forward with making money on your efforts?
by pearloaf is not yelling and dreams of bal on April 8th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
I'm 16 my bf is 19 legal in Canada ?
by Bailey_B2521 on February 15th, 2011
| 2 people like this
Can anyone help me understand the Schrödinger's cat experiement? I know what happened, but the lesson to be learned is hard to grasp.
by travr1 on September 2nd, 2011
| 1 person likes this
You're reading What exactly does E=mc squared mean?
Your favorite Q&A site is on Facebook! Become a fan to connect with the ever-growing community of Answerbaggers, share your thoughts and find out what Answerbag's up to next!
Comments
Good answer. Re your first sentence: Physicists sometimes choose units in which the speed of light is 1 to make the equation simply E=M. The rest mass of subatomic particles is often given in electron-volts -- normally a unit of energy.
by xprofessor on February 21st, 2008
Basically I need to take some classes in Math and Physics to really understand what you're saying right? Or is there a laymans term for it...? Sorry for the imbecileness. Just trying to get a graspe and realizing I need some Math and Physics courses...Ha
by supermegarockstar on February 22nd, 2008
No no courses (although it does help)
TO get the energy intrinsic in a mass of mass m just do the following,
multiply the mass by the speed of light multiplied by the speed of light.
Essentially mass is energy and energy is mass, Think ice and water (but that is just an analogy!). And the relationship is just defined as e = m(c^2). (c^2) is just a constant as xprofessor said so choosing appropriate units you essentially get e = m which is energy equals mass (this is only true for the right units though). It is more correct to say they are proportional, as one variable (say mass) alters the other alters proportionally.
Make sense? :)
by Tinkerbell on February 22nd, 2008
Getting...closer. yes...I think. LOL I understand the constant and variable. So what its doing is giving you a standard. To move this much mass will take this much energy...or Moving this much mass will give you this much energy?
by supermegarockstar on February 22nd, 2008
No not to move mass - the mass literally IS that amount of energy. You can convert mass into energy and energy into mass. They are merely different representations of the same thing. What is means is if you convert a mass m completely into energy the energy released will be equal to mc^2, no more no less.
As an aside for motion you use the equation
E = 1/2 * m * v^2
where v is the velocity. This is called kinetic energy. So a mass m moving with velocity v has energy 0.5*m*v^2. This is connected with e=mc^2 but starts getting complicated lol
Basic point is that mass is equivalent to energy and vice versa. you can convert between the two and the relationship is defined by the equation. :)
by Tinkerbell on February 22nd, 2008
mass in grams, C in cm.'s/second, in vacuum, and E is measured in Ergs.
C=300K Km.'s / second, times 100K to get cm.'s.
when you can check the speed of light in cm.'s/second, in a vacuum let me know, and we will talk about getting to the = sign.
There are 10 million ergs to the Joule.
How many decimal points can you weigh that gram out to?
And that is why, approximately.
by MadMike on June 12th, 2010