I've had quite few people tell me this is wrong and out of date
2007-03-02 05:35:56 · 14 answers · asked by The Angry Stick Man 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
When I say destroyed I mean turned into nothing, not energy
2007-03-02 05:38:09 · update #1
No, the conversion of mass principle applies to all chemical reactions, apart from nuclear fission reaction where some mass can be lost. The lost mass according to Einstein's equation is converted to energy, so no the mass cannot be converted to nothing.
Basically mass is energy and energy is mass, so one cannot exists without the other. Even if we collide matter (i.e electrons) and antimatter (i.e positrons), all mass will be destroyed and converted to energy. That should answer your question.
2007-03-02 05:44:53 · answer #1 · answered by The exclamation mark 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this is absolutely true. In fact, it's one of the fundamentals of thermodynamics. However, matter can be changed into energy. It happens in certain chemical reactions when you put two substances together and they seem to destroy each other - but they let out a lot of heat or light.....energy.
Anyone who tells you this is wrong does not understand basic physics
2007-03-02 05:40:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is energy that comprises matter, and when matter is converted into a form of energy (usually electromagnetic in nature) it is still existent, just in a different form. A person may make claims of subatomic particles disappearing forever, but it is not true. The physics trilogy: E = mc2, m = E/c2, and c2 = E/m does not allow for any conversion lower than that of the value of "c".
There is a writing "Magnetism and Gravity" at http://360.yahoo.com/noddarc that explains the basis of our existence. It is short and easy to read. Click on "view blog" then on "list view" and scroll down to it.
2007-03-02 05:46:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes and no. Matter can be destroyed in the sense that the item is no longer the item it once was. An example of this is a "chemical Change". If you burn a piece of paper you have destroyed the paper as it is no longer "Paper"
The actual reference is that you can not destroy ENERGY!
Energy can not be destroyed or created. It is simply transferred or changed from one form to another.
2007-03-02 05:40:52 · answer #4 · answered by BlissDreamer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes this is very true.
According to the Law of Conservation of Mass.
It can be changed into heat energy, or another from, but it can never be completely destroyed.
2007-03-02 09:52:30 · answer #5 · answered by fallingstar3796 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By classical physics that's true but when matter is turned into energy or vice versa as more modern physics allows, the statement is no longer true.
2007-03-02 05:39:00 · answer #6 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is true, Matter only changes form. Not created or destroyed.
2007-03-02 05:38:57 · answer #7 · answered by vospire s 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Energy can neither be created or destroyed.
2007-03-02 05:39:32 · answer #8 · answered by vicarious_notion 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no this is what we call a Natural Law meaning it is not known to be untrue. It is the conservation of matter where it can only be converted but not "vanished"
2007-03-02 05:40:31 · answer #9 · answered by 98nil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
always true
matter can not be destroyed
it is converted into something else
heat
light
something
this universe is a closed system - no matter has entered or exited.
hope this helps
2007-03-02 05:59:51 · answer #10 · answered by biometallica 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋