At as basic level, does the Theory of Relativity say that all matter in the universe is ultimately reduceable to raw energy? I'm no good at physics and have a hard time understanding alot of the explanations.
2006-12-08 06:43:02 · 8 answers · asked by Kurt 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes. It says that matter is a complicated form of energy.
Some of the answers above suggest this only happens under unusual conditions. THIS IS INCORRECT. For example, being in movement implies you have some (potential or kinetic) energy. If relativity was correct, your extra energy would mean you would also have extra mass. This is correct! While on a train, you do, in fact, weigh more than you do while waiting at the bus station! (although you would need a scale far more precise than any I've used to detect this difference).
This explains why you cant move faster than the speed of light. As you moved faster, you weigh more. So it takes more engery to move faster still, in which case you weigh more, and so forth. As you approach the speed of light, you will approach an infinite weight, and thus need an infinte amount of energy to continue to move.
So yes, all matter can be reduced to raw energy. And the same, all energy can be reduced to matter. Consider matter and energy to be on a scale. On one end you have matter at perfect rest. All of the energy is complexed into matter. On the other end, you have light, which is(necessarily, given how fast it moves) raw energy with no mass at all. Between these extremes you have various combinations of stuff with mass at motion at various speeds.
2006-12-08 07:17:07 · answer #1 · answered by john_lewin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really. It implies that, for certain calculations, the mass of the matter can be represented by an equivalent quantity of energy ( the famous E = m c^2).
It has been observed that when mass disappears (two anti-particles cancelling each other), the equivalent quantity of energy (usually in the form of photons) appears.
Also, it has been observed that when lots of energy is concentrated somewhere, some matter may appear (usually as two particles where one is the anti^particle of the other).
When you combine particles of known mass (like protons and neutrons) to form an atomic nucleus, the mass of the nucleus is not exactly the same as the sum of all the particles' masses, because you have to accont for the energy holding the nucleus together.
It may be that matter is reducible to raw energy. The theory does not say whether it is or not; what it says is how to calculate the resulting energy if it happens.
2006-12-08 06:54:30 · answer #2 · answered by Raymond 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Universe is in contrast to a vacuum. we've not discovered ninety% of the mass interior the Universe, so we call those products dark be counted. And we are looking staggering quantities of mass in intergalactic area. The Universe is extra ordinary and captivating than all of us know, possibly than we can know. If an observer isn't accelerating (so "inertial"), then he can assume to determine the comparable regulations of physics as the different inertial observer. This does contain the comparable vacuum velocity of light. those are the 1st 2 postulates of particular (as in constrained) Relativity. the final concept of Relativity is extra stable to entice close. It took Einstein very very nearly a decade to get from particular to popular Relativity.
2016-10-14 07:00:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Relativity trys to reduce all occurances, or states of matter into the individual hopefully measurable forces acting on them,,,time/speed/size/mass/----to determine what "energy" is acting at a given time, based on all other variables,, hopefully my rough explanation helps your understanding!
2006-12-08 06:53:22 · answer #4 · answered by ryan b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not at all - it is more like all mass has potential energy ( mass in motion has potential energy but as long as there is no change in that motion there is no energy release )
also note that Einstein while the basis of many theories must be reinterpreted based on the findings since 1949 ( which have added much to all of his work )
2006-12-08 06:51:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Matter and energy is indeed interchangeable. Einstein's theories were all proved to be correct.
2006-12-08 06:53:01 · answer #6 · answered by Willy B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as far as i am concerned, the mass
2006-12-08 06:50:03 · answer #7 · answered by dna_hckr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When matter touches anti matter, both aprtices are annihilated into pur renergy, e=mc^2. So, yes it is possible
2006-12-08 07:07:00 · answer #8 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋