If energy can be converted to mass, and heat is energy, then does heat have mass? Does it have weight?

Answer 1

Strictly speaking, Heat is a means by which energy can be transferred, not energy itself. Heat causes the temperature of a body to increase by exciting its constituent molecules, so that they bounce or jiggle around faster.

This motion is kinetic energy, which, like all forms of energy, represents a particular state of matter (since matter and energy are equivalent). However, the ammount of mass embodied by this energy is quite small and in most cases can be safely disregarded.

Answer 2

Heat waves are at the low end of the electromagnetic spectrum. They, likely will forever remain in that low frequency. A much higher frequency radiation is able to become electron pairs when it enters near the nucleus of an atom. Heat energy, a form of radiation, cannot form into a mass.

Answer 3

Yes and no.

Heat is energy produced by molecular movement. Without molecular movement (i.e. mass) you can have no heat. (and for the record, if you have mass, you have weight as long as there is gravity).

But heat, itself, has no mass. Your question states "energy can be converted to mass... heat is energy... does heat have mass?"

Well, heat is energy and energy can be CONVERTED to mass... energy does not HAVE mass. Therefore, heat, as energy, has no mass (and thus, no weight).