I don't seem to understand what role does the speed of light have in e=mc2 can anybody help?

Question

I just cant seem to find the relationship between the energy a certain amount of mass has in relation with the constant of the speed of light...

Answer 1

The equation was a result of the mathematics involved in explaining the Special Theory of Relativity.

After the theory was published, a mother and son team of physicists (sorry but I forget their names), were performing fission experiments. Fermi was the first to have performed a sustained chain reaction. When this team split an atomic nucleus, they found that the parts left over after the split did not add up mass or matter-wise to the mass of the original atomic nucleus. Where did this mass go? It was converted into energy. Energy and matter are transmutable. At what rate does matter convert into energy in a fission reaction? c^2
Energy [E] is equal to mass [m] * the speed of light [c] squared.

Answer 2

It is to do with moving mass as opposed to stationary mass. E=MC2 is a formula that gives us an idea of how much energy there is in a very tiny amount of mass. The fact that light speed is a constant irrespective of the motion of the observer is mind boggling enough. To get back to your question, no massive object can come close to the speed of light because as its speed increases so does its mass until at light speed it would be infinite and the total anihilation of all matter in the Universe into energy would not be enough to propel a massive object at light speed. Matter is energy and energy is matter, the two are the same and here is the link. Light is the ultimate manifestation of energy but has zero rest mass but its moving mass is considerable even though it has no mass in the traditional sense it is bent by gravity. Light is the ultimate energy, massless but with mass and can move at light speed. This is a very difficult concept to convey using pure language, you need Einstein's mathematics of his general theory, it kind of trancends words. I'll conclude by saying Energy equals mass X the speed of light in centimetres per second, squared! That alone, took me 10 years to get my head around. Jules Lecturer. Australia. Good luck

Answer 3

Light is electro-magnetic radiation.

E.M.wave travel in vacuum.

We are familiar with matter and their motion.

The only way in which energy is transferred with out any material medium is the E.M radiation.

Thus we see the maximum speed with which information can be transferred by physical means is the speed of light.

When experiment was conducted to measure the speed of light, it was found that the speed is measured as the same by the stationary observer as well as moving observer.

This is contrary to our expectations. When we move toward a source of light the speed of light must increase and when we recede from the source the speed must decrease.

But the most accurate experiment done at various times proved that light’s speed is constant irrespective of the speed of the observer.

This can be explained only when mass increase with the increase of speed, length decrease with increase of speed and time slows with increase of speed.

These changes are depending upon the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum and the actual speed of the object.

Thus the speed of light has entered into all equations which contain mass, length and time.

Any motion has a direct link with the constant 3x10^8 which happens to be the speed of light.

Answer 4

In the equation e=mc^2, c represents the speed of light.

In classical Newtonian physics, the kintetic energy of a moving object is given by the equation

e = 1/2 m v^2

Notice how similar the two equations are: both have e, energy, on the left side, and both have m, mass, on the right side. And both have a velocity squared on the right side too: in the Newtonian equation, it's the velocity of the moving object, while in Einstein's equation it's the velocity of light, c.

So e=mc^2 shows us how much energy is inherent in the mass of any object: twice as much as the kinetic energy that object would have if it were moving at the speed of light!

Answer 5

It might not have any role. By the definition of energy in
physics we need mass times velocity squared. We could use any velocity, then throw in a constant to make it equal. Because
of the well thought out symmetry of the metric system the constant is 1 when certain units such as meters and grams
are used and the results are in joules.

Answer 6

E=MC2
The equation explians,in basic terms, that matter and enrgy are not different things.Until Einstein , they were catagorized as totally seperate things.
His theory, that they were the same , just in diff. states. If you were to release the energy in matter, his equation states that...."E" the energy is "=" equal to the "M" the matter times "C2" the speed of light squared(187000x187000) speed of light is 187000 mls/sec. AS you can see ,the number will be large..that's why when the energy is released from a hydrogen, or plutonium atom it is SO DESTRUCTIVE

Answer 7

I believe it derives from the theories of relativity. Since light always travel with the same speed, whether the source is stationary or moving at ANY speed...maybe a residual of that...

Answer 8

The "c" value of energy is not just a number. It represents wave of energy. The equation for a gravitational field is c2 = e/m. Notice that the "c2" value is able to change with either a change in the mass or energy.

I answered this when explaining the relationship between magnetism an gravitational waves. I'm gonna copy that writing here.

Your Answer:
First, we have to look at the electron. It is the electron and its multiples that form magnetic fields. Second, we need to take a look at the force of gravity and compare the two.

The electron. This is a small bit of matter formed of electromagnetic energy. This is obvious in that a very high frequency of this energy entering near the nucleus of an atom is able to form electron pairs - negative and positive electrons. In forming an electron a monopole is made. This means an electron has one-half the frequency of the original electromagnetic energy bound in the southern half of the electron as "mass" (offers resistence to movement) and the northern half form magnetic lines extending outward. The center of the electron has an electric field through the plane of its equator. These three parts of the electron are formed of electromagnetic energy.

Multiples of the electron form neutrons and protons, which become the mass of our universe. Because mass is composed of electromagnetic energy, it has an unchangable value of "c" inherent in its composition. That value would be realized were an electron to be taken apart. What would instantly happen is an electromagnetic wave would be released. The value of "c" was there all along.

Secondly, we need to consider the origin of gravitational waves. These waves are formed of a relationship between mass and energy. The equation for a gravitational field is c2 = E/m. It is also that of a field of physical time. Notice if there were no energy to be divisible by mass, then there could be no gravitational field. As the value of "E" changes so, also, does that of the field, c2.

The existence of gravitational waves is obvious. In that the force of gravity performs work, it must have an energy source. it is impossible to perfrom work apart from having some kind of energy. What we need to know is how do the waves (a) form, and what are they (b) formed of.

(a) How the waves form. The basis of gravitational waves is that of the electromagnetic energy that formed the electron. Remember that the value of "c" was the basis of that mass. What the electron did in forming the mass was to complete a circle of more than 360 degrees and overlap part of its frequency, thus remaining bonded to its own frequency, while forming into three dimensions.

As an individual electron, or large mass, moves there is a change in its overall frequency. The lines of frequency become more dense in direction of movement and less dense at right angles to that direction. This is why a mass is able to move, and why it remains moving in its original direction, at its original speed until some of that increased frequency is given to another mass. If there is no manner for that frequency to be shared, then mass must continue to move.

But what happens when a mass is unable to move. It is still three dimensional, occupying the same space, but there is no evidence of the frequency change within the mass. This brings us to:

(b) Why gravitational waves exist and how to relate their existence to mass. It is stated that were a mass to approach to near the speed of light that it would become much shorter in the direction of movement. That is true. Because mass has as its basis electromagnetic energy, it must act in the same manner as what comprises it. The thought in short form is as follows:

E = hf, electromagnetic energy is equal to its frequency times Plank's constant.

mk = hf, mass kinetic energy operates exactly the same way as does electromagnetic energy. When there is an increase of energy in one direction, the overall line density in that direction increases. The energy values at right angles to direction of travel decreases in proportion to that of the forward one. Mass does not gain mass as it moves, it transfers energy (E) from dimensions to dimension.

c = hf, is the last part. The value of "c" is that of a particular form of wave energy - perhaps that of "h".

Now we are able to compare two different masses, in two different locations, doing the same thing but in different manners.

First is that of a mass in a speeding spaceship. The mass is going at a speed of light minus 25 mps. At this speed the mass would be, to an observer standing at a right angle to it, as though it were a very thin line in space. The forward dimension would have become compressed according to mk = hf. The obvious nature of this object is that of its movement. The energy value resident within would be obvious.

Second, lets take a look at a mass within our planet that is 0.717 miles from the core point. The nature of that mass is, that were you to allow it to freely move, it would instantly be moving toward the center of our planet at the same speed as the first mass illustration, moving at the speed of light minus 25 mps. BUT this mass is not going any place point to point. It is forced to remain 0.717 miles from the core point of our planet through all time.

What is the comparison between the two so that we may determine how gravitational waves form?

Were you to take the mass of outer space, and were it exactly the same size as the one within the core area of our planet, and were you to exchange them, it could be done with no problem. The one presently in the core of our earth would immediately be accelerating at the speed of light minus 25 mps in outer space. Then the one that had been in outer space could be fitted into the core of our earth and there would be no disruption. How is that possible?

The moving mass in outer space has obvious energy associated to it. The one now in the center of our planet has the value of mk = hf within just as it had, but now instead of there existing mass moving according to the value of time, the mass is moving time according to mass and energy contained within. The frequency (E) (gravitational waves) of the mass escapes at the speed of light according to the frequency of hf. If the energy (frequency) of the mass within earth were to decrease, so would its relative speed (a person could no longer exchange it with the one remaining in outer space). The hf value demonstrates the energy contained within the earth mass, and as long as the energy value continues to exist (heat) so, also, do the propigation of gravitational waves.

Hope it works for you