E = mc2. It's the world's most famous equation, but whatdoes it really mean? "Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared."On the most basic level, the equation says that energy and mass (matter) areinterchangeable; they are different forms of the same thing. Under the rightconditions, energy can become mass, and vice versa. We humans don't see themthat way—how can a beam of light and a walnut, say, be different forms ofthe same thing?—but Nature does. So why would you have to multiply the mass of that walnut by the speed oflight to determine how much energy is bound up inside it? The reason isthat whenever you convert part of a walnut or any other piece of matter to pureenergy, the resulting energy is by definition moving at the speed of light.Pure energy is electromagnetic radiation—whether light or X-rays orwhatever—and electromagnetic radiation travels at a constant speed of300,000 km/sec (186,000 miles/sec). Why, then, do you have to square the speed of light? It has to do withthe nature of energy. When something is moving four times as fast as somethingelse, it doesn't have four times the energy but rather 16 times theenergy—in other words, that figure is squared. So the speed of lightsquared is the conversion factor that decides just how much energy lies withina walnut or any other chunk of matter. And because the speed of light squaredis a huge number—90,000,000,000 (km/sec)2—the amount ofenergy bound up into even the smallest mass is truly mind-boggling. Here's an example. If you could turn every one of the atoms in a paperclip into pure energy—leaving no mass whatsoever—the paper clipwould yield 18 kilotons of TNT. That's roughly the size of the bomb thatdestroyed Hiroshima in 1945. On Earth, however, there is no practical way toconvert a paper clip or any other object entirely to energy. It would requiretemperatures and pressures greater than those at the core of our sun.
|  Now Check This Out! E = mc2: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation
by David Bodanis. Berkley Books, 2000.
Explore the innovative thinkers behind each piece of the equation, itssynthesis by Einstein, and its impact on society. Einstein 1905: The Standard of Greatness
by John S. Rigden. Harvard University Press, 2005.
Examine the impact of Einstein's work during 1905—the "miraculousyear" when he published E = mc2 and four other universe-changingpapers. NOVA—Einstein's Big Idea
www.pbs.org/nova/einstein
Get to know Einstein and his ideas through a time line of significant eventsin his life, interactive simulations of the speed of light and the effect ofmotion on time, and essays explaining E = mc2 and Einstein's othercontributions. | FAQs
E = mc2 Explained. E = mc2. It's the world's most famous equation, but what does it really mean? "Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared." On the most basic level, the equation says that energy and mass (matter) are interchangeable; they are different forms of the same thing.
What is the simple explanation of E mc2? ›
In the equation, E = m c2, E stands for energy, m stands for an object's mass, and c2 represents the speed of light ( 186,000 miles per second ) multiplied by itself. Think of mass as simply the quantity of matter present. Energy is a tougher concept, but it is okay to think of it as a property of heat or light.
How to use e mc2 in real life? ›
When you drive your car, E = mc2 is at work. As the engine burns gasoline to produce energy in the form of motion, it does so by converting some of the gasoline's mass into energy, in accord with Einstein's formula. When you use your MP3 player, E = mc2 is at work.
What is the law of E mc2? ›
Einstein went on to present his findings mathematically: energy (E) equals mass (m) times the speed of light (c) squared (2), or E=mc2. The secret the equation revealed—that mass and energy are different forms of the same thing—had eluded scientists for centuries.
What is E-mc2 in the human body? ›
But E=mc^2 is the equation for mass-energy equivalence. The protons and neutrons, and the atoms that are made out of them, are made out of energy. Their mass is proportional to the amount of energy they contain. So the human body cannot be converted into energy, because it already is energy!
Does E mc2 mean everything is energy? ›
Therefore, in E=mc2 we have E for energy, c for light which is also energy and m for mass which is also just a way of carrying energy and is ultimately not solid but a mass of vibrating particles and space, all of which are energy. In essence, this equation is therefore simply saying 'everything is energy'.
What does E mc2 tell us about the universe? ›
E = mc2, equation in German-born physicist Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity that expresses the fact that mass and energy are the same physical entity and can be changed into each other.
What does E mc2 mean in manifestation? ›
E=MC (squared) means that energy and mass are different manifestations of the same thing. Does this theory count for sound energy, too? - Quora. E=MC (squared) means that energy and mass are different manifestations of the same thing.
What does E mc2 mean in psychology? ›
The theory states that mass (m or matter) and energy (E) are interchangeable. Matter is slowed down (or crystallized energy). When energy travels at the speed of light squared (mc2) it becomes matter. Another way of looking at the malleability of matter is illustrated by how easily it can be transformed.
How does E-mc2 affect us today? ›
They are metamorphosing mass into energy in direct accordance with Einstein's equation. We take advantage of that realization today in many technologies. PET scans and similar diagnostics used in hospitals, for example, make use of E = mc2.
It shows that matter and energy are the same thing — as long as the matter travels at the speed of light squared. The latter is an enormous number and shows just how much energy there is in even tiny amounts of matter. That's why a small amount of uranium or plutonium can produce such a massive atomic explosion.
What is the best example of E mc2? ›
- What are the practical examples of E=mc2?
- For humans, the most practical example is the Sun, which turns hydrogen into helium, neutrinos, and radiation.
- Then, in our time, there are atomic power, medical devices, and weapons, among other things.
"Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared." On the most basic level, the equation says that energy and mass (matter) are interchangeable; they are different forms of the same thing. Under the right conditions, energy can become mass, and vice versa.
The Three Meanings Of E=mc^2, Einstein's Most ...Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com ›
From matter, antimatter and energy to the fundamental truths about existence, Einstein's most famous equation is the link you can't forget.
The great physicist was not the first to equate forms of mass to energy, nor did he definitively prove the relationship. By Tony Rothman. September 2015 Issue. ...
The units of E = mc^2 explained in an easy-to-follow way - How energy, mass and the speed of light are related.
According to the basic laws of physics, every wavelength of electromagnetic radiation corresponds to a specific amount of energy. The NIST/ILL team determined the value for energy in the Einstein equation, E = mc2, by carefully measuring the wavelength of gamma rays emitted by silicon and sulfur atoms.
Why is c the speed of light? ›
Speed of light is now universally represented by symbol 'c'. This symbol originated from the initial letter of the Latin word “celerity” meaning “swift” or “quick”. This symbol was used by Weber and Kohlrausch in their papers in 1856. For some years this symbol was regarded as Weber's constant.
What are simple examples of E mc2? ›
A common example of this is that 1 gram of water — if its whole mass were converted into pure energy via E=mc² — contains energy equivalent to 20,000 tons (18,143 metric tons) of TNT exploding. That's why such a small amount of uranium or plutonium can produce such a massive atomic explosion.
What does the c stand for in E mc2? ›
E = Energy. m = Mass. c = Speed of light. from the Latin term celeritas, which means "speed" 2 = Squared.
