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Question

WHAT DOES E=MC2 MEAN?

Answer 1

Here you go: http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/emc2/emc2.html

Answer 2

E=MC2 mean
Energy is equal to Mass multiplied by the speed of light (C) elevated to the 2nd power.

Answer 3

E is Energy, the capability to do work. It is often measured in Joules.

m = mass, the quantity of matter. It is often measured in kg.

c = speed of light, approximately 300,000 km/s
for this equation, you need it in metres per second:
300,000,000 m/s or 3x10^8 m/s

c^2 means c squared. c times c. 9 x 10^16 m^2/s^2

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It means that if you could transform matter into energy, you'd get a lot of energy for very little power.

The Sun fuses together four atoms of hydrogen to form 1 atom of helium. The total mass of 4 atoms of hydrogen is a tiny bit more than 1 atom of helium.

The Sun uses up hydrogen "so fast" that the tiny bits add up to 4 million tonnes per second.

That is 4,000,000,000 kg per second of matter being transformed into energy. The Sun is so massive that it can continue to use up matter at this rate for another 5 billion years. So, no problem there.

E = m c^2

How much energy do we get for 4,000,000,000 kg?

m = 4,000,000,000 kg = 4x10^9 kg

c = 300,000,000 metres per second = 3x10^8 m/s

c^2 (c times c) = 9x10^16 m^2 / s^2

E = 4x10^9 kg * 9x10^16 m^2/s^2 = 36x10^25 kg*m^2/s^2
E = 3.6x10^26 Joules.

Since the Sun transforms 4 million tonnes into energy every second, then the rate is 3.6x10^26 J/s = 3.6x10^26 Watts.

(I've used rounded figures, the real output is closer to 3.85x10^26 W).

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The equation is simply an "equivalence" relation. Einstein postulated that matter and energy are simply two forms of the same thing and the relation between the two forms is linked to the speed of light in a vacuum (represented by the letter c).

If you could transform an ounce of matter into energy (let us say 30 grams = 0.03 kg), you would get
E = m c^2
E = 0.03 kg * 9x10^16 m^2/s^2) = 2.7x10^15 Joules.

If it took you a whole day to do this transformation, the energy would be released (spread out) over 86,400 seconds.

2.7x10^15 Joules / 86,400 seconds = 3.125x10^10 J/s =
31,250,000,000 Watts; enough to satisfy the electrical needs of a large city or a medium-sized state for a whole day.

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I works both ways. If you could concentrate enough energy in one spot, you could create matter.

Answer 4

any equation implies a relationship.

here are two things that don't SEEM to be related... mass (how much matter there is in something) and energy. This equation says they ARE related. We all grew up with this and can say it in our sleep (ask my Ex why we broke up), but seldom do we think about what it means.

its sorta like a glass of ice water. The ice and the water are completly different, yet are both forms of the same thing.

Think of Matter as frozen energy and you really aren't that far off.

Answer 5

It's a mass-to-energy equivalent. Energy is equal to the mass times the speed of light squared. IOW, converting a little mass to energy yields a LOT of energy.

Answer 6

its the equation that give you energy from mass. mass isnt just mass, its energy. they are the same thing. mass is just cooled energy. the equation means energy = mass times the speed of light times the speed of light. its the principle behind the sun. the sun smashes hydrogen atoms together to make helium atoms. the helium atom is a little less massive than the hydrogen that made it, that missing mass is given off as energy.

Answer 7

energy equals mass times the speed of light squared.

Answer 8

technically, energy = mass times speed of light squared

which means that if you want more engergy, get more mass (energy as in the energy to fall faster)