What if e doesn't equal mc-squared?

Question

What if Einstein and all that followed him in their thinking are just plain wrong?

2 hours later and I'm amazed at the personal attacks. I never claimed that I think otherwise. I was merely interested in some opinions. Those of you who are so insecure that you get huffy at a simple speculative inquiry are living a sad existence. (I actually hoped to inspire more funny answers...)

Answer 1

If it doesn't, then all the numerous scientists and the experiments they performed all over the world that verified it several times are wrong.

Why challenge a scientific finding when there's no evidence yet to suggest it's in error?

It's one thing to challenge science and quite another to validate the reasons for doing so without logical and factual foundations to support the contention.

The people who challenge science the most are consistently the people who are least competent in their understanding of what science is all about and how to go about it properly.

The equation is verified in particle collision experiments daily and it correctly predicts their observations better than any other theory ever yet proposed.

Considering the fact that Newtonian mechanics survived experimental testing for validity and solved many scientific problems sufficiently for hundreds of years before science was advanced enough to see its flaws and limits. There is a significant probability that the same is very likely true of relativity as well.

Relativity fails to explain many things, so by itself, it's still not the ultimate answer, but it's the best answer we have so far until a better theory comes along that can explain the things that relativity does and also things it cannot, just as relativity did in the case of Newtonian mechanics.

So, what you suggest is not impossible, but current scientific technology fails to find any evidence to substantiate that assumption. But that's no reason to abandon the search for an even better answer.

Answer 2

E = m*c^2 squared is far from just being a thought or theory as you suggest. The processes of both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion are based on that equation and have been researched and measured for over 60 years, solidly confirming the validity of Einstein's equation.

Answer 3

And your proof to the contrary is...?

Scientific methods mean that the principals are tested, re-tested, and re-tested again. If Relativity was not solid, then it would have been thrown out long ago.

Even researchers looking into the so-called "Theory of Everything" admit that the basic theory is sound at the "very large" scale of astrophysics, and forms a basis for the "very small" scale of atomic theory. The only disputed aspects fall to explaining the reduction of the importance of the "very small" factors which are no longer present in astrophysics.

Answer 4

It's highly possible. Just because something's socially acceptable, doesn't mean it's right. Back in the day, it was common scientific knowledge that the earth was flat and the center of the universe. We see where that ended up.

If they were wrong, some radical genius pothead will figure it out, he'll/she'll be slandered, ridiculed, and discredited as insane, weed smoking, manic, and so many years later she'll prove herself right. It's only a matter of time. And quality of weed.

Answer 5

What are the consequences? They are insignificant. The fact is that "we" have used formulas and relationships that were not perfect and been ok. We have used e=mc^2 and been ok. If something is better or rather more appropriate, we'll get it when we need it....maybe. Nice question though I don't see the point.

Answer 6

Then you can prove it and make yourself a real name in physics. There are always a few scientists out there who disagree with majority of their peers. Sometimes they are just crack-pots. Sometimes they can change the world. Remember that Einstein turned the Newtonian world upside down. (Of course, relativity has stood up to extensive experimentation.)

Answer 7

Look out the window. See that bright thing called the sun?
That is E=mc^2 in action. If it was wrong, the sun would not shine.

Answer 8

if they were "just plain wrong", the Atomic bomb would have blown in their face and we would have known. therefore it's not "plain wrong". It might be inacucurate, meaning it might be false in weird circumstances (like newtonian physics are wrong when dealing with subatomic particles) but certainly not "plain wrong" (newtonian physics are still correct for "normal" physics)

Answer 9

Well if that was the case all the science that we have accrued from thinking along those lines is meaningless and all the technology that we have derived from it does not exist.

Answer 10

lessee ... if e doesn't equal emcee squared, then einstein didn't know what he was talkin about, the a-bomb wuddda benna dud, the universe wuddn't exist, and u wuddn't b here to aks this kinda qustion.