explain
2006-09-25 05:18:48 · 12 answers · asked by onmykneez4cheez 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
energy = mass times the square of the speed of light.
2006-09-25 05:21:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The description is for the total amount of energy a person could expect to receive from a mass were the mass totally converted into energy. To take a look at it, lets consider the three parts of it.
Energy, is in Joules - you could look up all the different ways this form of energy is able to be converted into differing forms.
mass, is commonly thought of as being that which offers resistance to movement. It has physical dimension.
c2, is the expression of the speed of light times itself. There is a value to c2. It is not just an arbitrary number. c2 is the basis of our physical world. It is the time value by which all events move from the present into the past. Any value not having as its basis that of c2, does not exist in our universe.
There is a short writing found at http://360.yahoo.com/noddarc entitled "Magnetism and Gravity" that you can scroll down to. It is a short writing that gives the basis of physical time, while contrasting magnetism and gravity.
2006-09-25 08:23:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that energy is just one manifestation of mass and mass is just one manifestation of energy. This is why we often see the term "mass-energy" in advanced physics. As far as equations are concerned mass (m) and energy (E) are interchangeable.
One interesting aspect of E = mc^2 is what it implies when mass increases according to the Lorentz transform L = sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2) so that E = (m/L)c^2; where c is the speed of light and v is the speed of the body with rest mass m. As v --> c, L --> 0; so that (m/L) and consequently E approach infinity. This is why they say we cannot go the speed of light (v = c); it would take an infinite amount of energy to get us up to that speed.
2006-09-25 06:01:42 · answer #3 · answered by oldprof 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
E (Energy) = M (Mass) c (speed of Light) 2 (square the speed of light)
so the speed of light is a very big number. Even a little bit of mass multiplied by that will give a LOT of energy.
Religious people also point out that Energy (something invisible, like God's power) can give rise to Mass (something visible like the Earth around us)
2006-09-25 05:30:01 · answer #4 · answered by upf_geelong 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
energy = mass times the square of the speed of light.
What is the meaning of life?
42.
2006-09-25 05:26:54 · answer #5 · answered by lilstormbug 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
e=mc^2
e-energy
m-mass
c-speed of light
when you convert matter into energy the amount of energy is determined using this formula. the amount of mass multiplied by the speed of light squared. whenever you are dealing with the measurement of energy such as the speed of light in an equation you always have to square the number. that's why even if you were going at the speed of light you would never catch up to it. so the speed of light is the fastest speed.
2006-09-26 13:29:55 · answer #6 · answered by vampbookworm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
e=mc2 where
e=energy acquired by a body
m=mass of that body
c=velocity of light ( velocity of light is a vector quantity because light travels in a straight line and in a definite direction).
Hence,if a body of mass m can gain squared times velocity of light,the body will gain tremendous energy.Even a very small body of the mass of an atom can gain tremendous energy if it can gain squared times velocity of light.This is the basis of atomic theory and kinetic theory of gases.
2006-09-25 07:37:47 · answer #7 · answered by UNIVERSAL 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
E= energy released in the fusion or fission of an atom
m= mass of the atom
c= constant value (never)
Therefore the energy release E = the mass of the atom times c squared. Thanks to Einstein
2006-09-25 05:29:36 · answer #8 · answered by dipopo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is Einstein's famous equation. e-energy liberated during nuclear reaction(fission or fusion), m-mass,c-velocity of light. it is used to calculate the amount of energy released, or the mass of the element (m=e/csquare) or the velocity of light (but it is always constant). energy must be expressed in joules(J).
2006-09-25 05:39:10 · answer #9 · answered by sapphire moon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It lets you know that when pure energy slows down it turns into matter radiation>hydrogen>helium... etc through the periodic table and beyond.
2006-09-25 05:45:45 · answer #10 · answered by old_brain 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋