What Experiments Led To The Discovery Of E=Mc2?

From Astronomy & Space Forum:

What experiments led to the discovery of E=mc2? I am reading the book E=mc2 and it's hard for me to understand what exactly is happening throughout it. I need to write a paper on the experiments that led to the discovery of this equation. Can someone help?

Answer: Many people read on the Michelson-Morley experiment as crucial for the development of special relativity, but Albert Einstein reportedly didn't pay much attention to it. Rather, he noticed another, less quoted experiment by the french physicist Pollute Fizeau. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fizeau_experiment Anyway, the confirmation came from nuclear physics. Look up the name Enrico Fermi.

How Do I Find The Mass If I Have The Answers To Energy And Speed Of Light? Using Einsteins Equation E=Mc2?

From Physics Forum:

How do I find the mass if I have the answers to energy and speed of light? Using Einsteins equation e=mc2? Hi there, How do I find the mass if I have the answers to Energy and speed of light using Einsteins equation e=mc2? Thank you

Answer: I'm guessing you've got the algebra figured out. As others have said, m = E / c^2. The tricky part might be making sure you're using the correct units. The speed of light should be in meters per second (use 3 x 10^8). Energy should be in Joules. If you've been given the energy in some other set of units, you'll need to convert. Just Go ogle the conversion you need, such as from ergs to Joules. That will give you mass in kilograms. Again, you can Go ogle the conversion if you want mass in other units.

Does The Equation E= MC Apply Only To Nuclear And Chemical Reactions?

From Physics Forum:

Does the equation E= MC apply only to nuclear and chemical reactions? Does the equation E= MC apply only to nuclear and chemical reactions?

Answer: It applies to everything. Lift an object up onto a shelf. It has more GAPE. It has more mass!. Which has more energy - a kg of uranium , a kg of coal or a kg of rock? They have exactly the same energy. ( if they are all at the same height above the ground.) Its worth getting your head around - mass is energy and the reverse.... The equation means exactly what it says.

Based On The Equation E=Mc2, Can Energy Be Converted Back To Mass?

From Physics Forum:

Based on the equation E=MC2, can energy be converted back to mass? According to Einstein, E=MC2, thus mass is converted to energy. Is there a mechanism by which said energy is converted BACK to mass? Yes, but in a nuclear reaction the mass created is somewhat less than the original mass of the reactant(s), and the remainder is converted into energy. Is this energy ever converted back into mass?

Answer: Yes, this is routinely done in high-energy particle accelerators, where some of the kinetic energy of the collided particles is converted into subatomic particles (always appearing in matter/anti-matter pairs). But as you can guess from the mass-energy equivalence equation you mentioned, it takes a LOT of energy to create even a small amount of mass.

How Are The Factors Of E=Mc2 Measured?

From Physics Forum:

How are the factors of E=mc2 measured? OK, I know that E=mc2 means energy is equal to mass multiplied by the speed of light squared. I've known that for a while. But how are the factors of the equation measured? It dawned upon me that if you measure that equation in different units of measurement, you'll get a different answer for which combination of measurements you use. So how are they measured? Is there some sort of universal form of measurement which gives the true speed and mass of an object? Did Einstein say what the measurement is? Is there something I'm missing?

Answer: You can use any units you'd like, as long as they are consistent with the factor m, E, or c. We have standard units defined in the Standard Internationale (SI), but that just makes things easier. They are not required. So you can use slugs, grams, kilograms, or whatever works with mass for the m in E = mc^2. The common SI unit, though, is kilogram (kg) in the so-called k.m.s SI system. c is speed; so use any speed units you care to. m/s, cm/s, mi/hr, mi/sec, light years/year, etc. are all speed units. So pick what works best for your specific case. The common k.m.s SI unit is m/s. E can use any energy units. kg.(m/s)^2 are the derived units for energy in the k.m.s SI system of units. Often you heard the arcane Joules for energy, but that's just kg.(m/s)^2. But ft.lbs works in the so-called Imperial System of slugs.ft.sec. Pounds (lbs) are slug.ft/s^2 basic Imperial units that are force units. Yes you are missing something. The units are chosen to be consistent with the nature of the problem and with the proper units for the property of the variable. That is, use length units when the variable is a length factor, use mass units when the variable is a mass factors, and so on. But other than that, use whatever works best for your case, ensuring that your dependent variable units are consistent with its property. That is, for example, in E = mc^2, energy, the dependent variable, has to end up with energy units. So the combination of m and c^2 units must equal those energy units.

Is E=Mc2 Program (Uni Experience For Gifted High School) Beneficial For Applying To University?

From Higher Education (University +) Forum:

Is E=MC2 program (uni experience for gifted high school) beneficial for applying to university? There's a program at Queens University called E=MC2. It's for academic students in high school, and you stay in res. to get the uni experience and take uni courses. I'm wondering if this type of program would be beneficial to me at all when applying to university?

Answer: I say any experience with higher courses while you are still in High school will look good on your resume and application.

Does E=Mc2 Mean That Little Amounts Of Energy Equals Lots Of Mass? I Will Choose Best Answer?

From Physics Forum:

Does E=mc2 mean that little amounts of energy equals lots of mass? I will choose best answer? I know what the letters represent, so you don't need to tell me. For example: E=mc2 = 2= #(m)(186,000m/s)2 so right away you can see that the energy is 2 and the mass would be way over 186,000. So does this mean that little amounts of energy equals lots of mass?

Answer: no, you have it a little backwards it means that tiny amounts of mass represent huge amounts of energy E=mc^2 if the energy is "2" (of what unit?) then the to get the mass, you have to divide the "2" by 186,000 miles/sec another way of looking at it is that you have to have a really tiny mass if you are going to multiply that mass by the speed of light and only get a "2"

Why C In E=Mc2 Is Refer ed To As Speed Of Light And Not An Absolute Figure Of 300000 X 300000?

From Physics Forum:

Why c in E=Mc2 is refer ed to as speed of light and not an absolute figure of 300000 X 300000? why c in e=mc2 is refer ed as speed of light and not an absolute figure X ? Is there any logic behind this ? Does it have any link or dependency with/on speed of light ?

Answer: Yes, it depends on the units you use to measure the speed of light. If it is meters per second, then it is 300 million. If you are using miles per hour, it is over 600 million. If you are using inches per week, it is something else. That's the reason for using the letter c as the speed of light, its actual numerical value will differ depending on the units you use to measure it. Hope this helps

Isn'T E=Mc2 The Equation That Will Ultimately Cause Humans To Run Out Of Resources?

From Philosophy Forum:

Isn't E=MC2 the equation that will ultimately cause humans to run out of resources? Add that to the law of entropy and all matter will eventually be converted to energy and leak away into the universe. Won't E=MC2 lead humans on a terminal consumption run that will inevitably devastate the planet? How can one truly get ahead if one uses the equation as a basis for energy production? Are there other ways to produce energy that are more sustainable? It really means you burn everything up, then it is gone, yes? Hence, MC2=E....

Answer: The equation you quote is known as the Theory of Relativity. It's not a formula for energy production, but a statement of relationship. That relationship goes both ways; neither matter nor energy can be destroyed. Change happens. The law of entropy is balanced by the law of evolution: chaos leads to equilibrium at a higher state of complexity. The dynamic balance between matter and energy, time and space, growth and decline -- it's what constitutes the Great Mystery. It's true that humanity is consuming and spoiling resources at an unsustainable rate, but we're just one of the factors of nature. Evolution has produced this "intelligent" creature that is destroying its own habitat! We have a mission as a species, to reach another level of complexity, to sort out the chaos we've created here! Nature will learn its lessons from us, whether we learn soon enough to prevent our own demise or not. Nature has its way of keeping the change happening! Yes, at the level of practicality, we can find ways of "producing" the energy we want to use, or capturing it on its way. Applying nuclear fission technology to convert matter to energy is a silly waste. With advances in science, there will be far better ways of engineering and managing our environment, but we're still at a kindergarten level, both in our scientific understandings and in our maturity regarding the stewardship of this planet and its marvelous biodiversity. I hope we will live up to our self-image as "intelligent" beings before we upset nature's balance enough to make ourselves extinct!

Are 'General Relativity', 'Special Relativity' And 'E=Mc2' The Same?

From Physics Forum:

Are 'general relativity', 'special relativity' and 'e=mc2' the same? I always heard of general relativity and e=mc2. So is the formula of general relativity e=mc2? Or they are different things? Because I always heard about that and I'm interested in this stuff

Answer: No, special relativity mostly deals with the issue of speed of light in inertial frames of reference. General relativity generalizes special relativity and deals with gravity. The mass energy equivalence formula is part of special relativity.

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