How to Understand E=mc2: 7 Steps (with Images)

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How to Understand E=mc2: 7 Steps (with Images)
How to Understand E=mc2: 7 Steps (with Images)

Video: How to Understand E=mc2: 7 Steps (with Images)

Video: How to Understand E=mc2: 7 Steps (with Images)
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In one of Albert Einstein's revolutionary scientific papers published in 1905, the formula E=mc2 was presented to the world, in which AND represents energy, m represents the mass and ç, represents the speed of light in a vacuum. Since that time, E=mc2 has become one of the most famous equations in the world. Even people with no background in physics have heard of it and are aware of the extraordinary influence it has on our world. However, most of them do not precisely understand the meaning of this equation. In simple terms, it represents the correlation between energy and matter: essentially, both are interchangeable. This relatively simple equation has changed the way we think about energy and has made numerous technological advances possible.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Understanding the Equation

Understand E=mc2 Step 1
Understand E=mc2 Step 1

Step 1. Determine the variables in the equation

The first step in understanding any equation is knowing what each variable represents. In this case, AND represents the energy of an object at rest, m represents the mass of the object and ç, represents the speed of light in a vacuum.

In fact, the speed of light, ç, is a constant worth approximately 3.00 × 108 meters per second. In the context of Einstein's relativity, the c.2 it works more like a conversion unit than a constant. Therefore, it is squared as a result of a dimensional analysis - energy is measured in joules, or kg m2 s-2. In this sense, add c2 ensures that the relationship between energy and mass remains dimensionally consistent.

Understand E=mc2 Step 2
Understand E=mc2 Step 2

Step 2. Understand what is considered energy

There are many forms of energy including thermal, electrical, chemical, nuclear and others. It is transferred between systems, powering one of them while taking it from the other. The basic unit of energy is the joule (J).

  • Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be transformed into a different form. For example, coal has a lot of potential energy that turns into thermal when burned.
  • The energy of an object is equal to its mass times the square of its velocity. In this case, the object's speed will be equal to that at which the light moves.
Understand E=mc2 Step 3
Understand E=mc2 Step 3

Step 3. Define the meaning of mass

Mass is generally defined as the amount of matter in an object.

  • There are other definitions of mass. There is "invariant mass" and "relativistic mass". The invariant mass is one that remains constant regardless of its reference point. Relativistic mass, on the other hand, depends on the object's velocity. In the equation E = mc2, m refers to the invariant mass. In other words, the mass of your object not grows with the speed reached.
  • It is important to understand that mass and weight are different variables. Weight represents the gravitational force received by an object while mass is the amount of matter in it. The mass only varies if the object is physically altered, but the weight can change depending on its gravity. Mass is measured in kilograms (kg) and weight in newtons (N).
  • Like energy, mass cannot be created or destroyed, but its shape can change. For example, an ice cube can melt into liquid form, but it will still have the same mass in both states.
Understand E=mc2 Step 4
Understand E=mc2 Step 4

Step 4. Realize that mass and energy are equivalent

The equation states that mass and energy are the same concept and tells us how much energy is contained within a given amount of mass. Essentially, it explains that a small portion of mass is filled with a great deal of energy.

Method 2 of 2: Applying the Equation in the Real World

Understand E=mc2 Step 5
Understand E=mc2 Step 5

Step 1. Understand where useful energy comes from

The largest portion of useful energy comes from burning coal and natural gas. Burning these substances takes advantage of their valence electrons (those unmatched in the outermost shell of the atom) and the bonds they make to other elements. When heat is added, these bonds break and the energy released is used to bring energy into our world.

Obtaining energy in this way is inefficient and very costly for the environment

Understand E=mc2 Step 6
Understand E=mc2 Step 6

Step 2. Apply Einstein's equation to make energy conversion more efficient

The formula E=mc2 tells us that there is much more energy stored inside an atom's nucleus than in its valence electrons. The energy released by the fission of the atom is much greater than that resulting from the breaking of electronic bonds.

Nuclear force is based on this principle. Nuclear reactors cause fission (splitting of atoms) and then capture the immense amount of energy that results

Understand E=mc2 Step 7
Understand E=mc2 Step 7

Step 3. Discover existing technologies thanks to the E=mc equation2.

This formula has made it possible to create many new and exciting technologies, some of which are indispensable to our modern life:

  • Positron emission tomography makes use of radioactivity to visualize the inside of the body.
  • This equation allowed the development of telecommunications with satellites and probes.
  • Carbon dating uses radioactive decay based on the equation to determine the age of very old objects.
  • Nuclear energy enables the existence of cleaner and more efficient energy sources in our society.

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