can anyone help me with this,E=MC2,okay so that means energy=mass to the speed of light by the power of two (or times by itself), its the last bit that confuses me,how can you times the speed of light by itself (speed of light x speed of light),as nothing can go faster than the speed of light then surly the last part of the equasion would work out faster than the speed of light, do you understand what I mean,also one last thought WHY cant anything go faster than the speed of light anyway, please try to answer this in plain english as I won't understand you if you start getting deep,see ya !
2006-11-21 10:35:59 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
You've lost the point of the equation. Squaring the speed of light will give you the energy released, not an enhanced speed of light.
2006-11-21 12:21:03 · answer #1 · answered by Jellicoe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically the speed of light is a known speed. Although it is the maximum speed it is not infinate.
If there were onlky ten cakes in the universe and no more can ever be made it does not stop an equation of 10 cakes squared from meaning something.
Things can not physically go faster than the speed of light. This does not prevent a theoretical particle that does not exist travelling faster. Just like even if all 10 cakes in the universe were accounted for it would be possible to imagine more existing in theory.
So the speed of light squared is a number equal to the value of the speed of light times itself. Nothing has to travel that fast. It is just the numeric value needed to make mass have an equal value to energy.
So if we imagine the speed of light was 2mph (a small and easy value)
energy = mass times 2 squared
so
energy = mass times 4.
Although we both know the value of the speed of light is higher than this the basic principle is the same.
Have a great day.
2006-11-21 10:58:34 · answer #2 · answered by monkeymanelvis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well the problem is, it's difficult to answer in plain english, but i'll try...
E=MC^2 is the formula that unites energy and mass, signifying that they are essentially the same thing. That when matter is 'destroyed' the amount of energy released is the speed of light squared times the amount of mass (a really enormous number). This can be proven experimentally in nuclear reactions, as small amounts of matter are lost and cannot be accounted for after the massive amount of energy is released. The importance of this formula in its simplest terms means that energy and mass are one in the same, and that matter is nothing but densely packed energy. The concept really is astonishing, and one of the reasons Einstein deserves taht whole 'man of the century' thing.
If you read special relativity, you'll see (fairly obviously if you follow a few simple equations, but it can be difficult to grasp clearly) that the speed of light is absolute, and that any object with mass cannot be accelerated to the speed of light, as the amount of energy required to do so would be infinite, more energy than exists in the entire universe. In a nuthshell, that's one of several reasons that you cannot have an object with mass traveling at the speed of light.
As for your question in regards to the problem, the speed of light is a constant in this equation, and isn't being used to calculate acutal speed, it's being used as a ratio, they might as well say 9^16, as that's the actual value (but C in physics usually refers to the speed of light). If you were calculating speed, it'd be impossible to use an integer value C as a constant in an equation.
2006-11-21 10:48:13 · answer #3 · answered by banzai 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read the book "Why does E=mc2?" By Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw Published by Da Capo Press a member of the Perseus Books Group ISBN 978-0-306-81758-8
2016-05-22 10:22:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how to explain it well, but the formula shows how much energy is contained in a certain amount of mass (i.e. why a little uranium or plutonium can make such a big explosion) - also, it would take more energy than is in the universe to get an object with mass to go the speed of light.
2006-11-21 10:52:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically, E is energy and m is mass. Einstein found that energy and mass are interchangeable - that even if the mass of the reactants in a reaction is not equal to the mass of the products, it is because that difference is converted into energy.
It doesn't matter that c is squared - you are not calculating speed of an object, it is just a constant to use as a frame of reference.
2006-11-21 10:45:53 · answer #6 · answered by Calvin 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can derive this equation by using the Lorentz Equations for Mass M = M/(sqrt(1-(v/c)^2) and knowing that Kinetic Energy = P^2/2M or (1/2)*MV^2 and doing a Series Expansion on it.
If this is too hard you can also consider the Units of E=MC^2
Energy = Kg * Meters^2/Sec^2
We know from Physics that Force*Distance = Energy.or that Energy = Newton*Meter, 1 Newton = Kg-Meter/Sec^2
So....Energy = (Kg-Meter/(Sec^2))*Meter = Kg * Meters^2/Sec^2
So the Units work out.
2006-11-21 16:19:16 · answer #7 · answered by bostonterrier_97 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
2 things:
1. nothing with mass can go faster than the speed of light
2. the speed of light itslef can go faster than the speed of light
2006-11-21 10:41:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
even the question eludes me! let alone an answer!!
2006-11-21 10:50:02 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋