2007-05-24 11:24:19 · 10 answers · asked by smartbiz85 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Mass and energy are the same thing (up to a constant of proportionality, c^2). Any kind of energy has mass (inertial and gravitational). Anything with mass has energy.
2007-05-24 11:30:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The formula was originated by Henri Poincare in 1900. It basically described the Energy as being the result of the product of a mass and the velocity square at which its moving. Poincare inserted the speed of light as the limiting velocity.
It is not understood as how a mass moves at the speed of light inside atoms.Nevertheless The formula described its energy content of formation.
If a mass structure was to break up in pieces each component would move and fly out at the speed of light.
2007-05-24 18:54:59 · answer #2 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most people believe that it means mass can be converted to energy in an amount given by mass x speed of light squared.
What it actually means is this. there is a "something" called mass-energy and if we look at it in a way that we see mass, then if we looked at it in a way were we would see energy, the amount of energy we would observe would be = mc^2
Maybe best way to think of this would be through an analogy. Think of a cone. if you look at the cone from the side, you see a triangle. The area of the triangle can be measured right? if you look at the bottom of the cone, you see a circle. There is a relationship between the area of the triangle and the area of the circle for a given height? right?
Area of triangle = 1/2 h x b
Area of circle = pi x b
so area of the circle = 2 x pi x area of triangle / h right?
mass energy would be like the cone, energy would be the circle, and mass would be the triangle, the equation e=mc^2 would be like the relationship between the areas.
2007-05-24 18:49:44 · answer #3 · answered by Dr W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The correct form of this equation is ÎE = ÎMC^2
This basically says that a change in mass (ÎM) multiplied by the speed of light squared is equal to the energy given out, or taken in(depending of whether the mass increases or decreases) within the system.
2007-05-24 18:38:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that energy is equal to mass times the speed of light squared.
2007-05-24 18:29:56 · answer #5 · answered by Steven - 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should be written as E = mc^2
The carrot says c is raised to the power of 2 (squared)
This is the ratio of Energy evolved when matter is converted to energy.
Since c is a large number and c squared is even greater, even a small amount of matter converted to energy is a lot of energy. A LOT OF ENERGY!
E is energy
m is mass
c is the speed of light
2007-05-24 18:34:21 · answer #6 · answered by Owl Eye 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
E=Energy.
M=Mass.
C=The speed of light (constant).
2=Squared.
So, Energy equals mass multiplied by the speed of light squared.
2007-05-24 18:31:11 · answer #7 · answered by Angela D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Energy is equal to the mass times the speed of light squared.
Look up Einstein's theory of relativity.
edit: to clarify C= the speed of light because the speed of light is constant (C)
2007-05-24 18:27:54 · answer #8 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it also means that as the speed of an object increases so does its mass.
the closer an object travels to the speed of light the more its mass will increase untill it is almost infinetly massive and takes more and more energy to accelerate. bottom line is no solid object (or gas or liquid) can travel at the speed of light. the speed of light is observable in energy (or what appears to be energy when you observe it cause matter=energy, energy=matter)
weird stuff, eh?
2007-05-24 18:36:09 · answer #9 · answered by concerned american 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
energy equals mass something something squared. sorry cant remember the rest.
2007-05-24 18:28:58 · answer #10 · answered by william l 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋