What is the meaning of Einstein's equation E equals MC squared?

Answer 1

Einstein's famous equation E = mc2 shows that energy (E) and matter (m) can be converted into each other. This means that a certain amount of matter (atoms etc) can be completely converted into energy. This happens all of the time in the interior of stars which produce their energy (heat and light) by nuclear fusion, using up the matter of which they are made. Mass to energy conversion also happens in atomic and hydrogen bombs and in nuclear power stations. Similarly, pure energy can be converted into matter. In theory this happened most significantly in a big bang at the origin of the universe. It also happens in "atom smashers" where subatomic particles are accelerated to very high speeds and allowed to collide with each other. The high speed of the collision produces a large amount of energy, some of which can be converted into new particles of matter. The large size of the speed of light, and the fact that it is squared, means that a tiny amount of matter can release very large amounts of energy. See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/legacy.html http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/greene05/greene05_index.html E=mc2 says that energy and mass are the same basic stuff, and that mass "m" can be converted to energy "E" and you wind up with a huge amount of it. This is what makes stars light. "c" is " the velocity of light in a vacuum" which is approximately 300,000 kilometres per second, making c2, a gigantic number, (approx.90,000,000,000). For example if energy is in Joules, and mass in kilograms, then the factor c2 is 1016(m2/s2). Consideration of the essential unity of matter and energy, of space and time, and of the forces of gravitation and acceleration, give rise to expectations of their properties existing in equilibrium, at both quantum and relativistic stages. As the quantum theory applies to the very small, so the relativity theory applies to the very large, and both, according to Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity,published in 1905, give substance to the idea also touched on by Newton, that no particular object in the universe is suitable as an absolute frame of reference which is at rest with respect to space.Thus it is that any object, such as a chosen position in the solar system, can be used be used to determine the motion of any other object; as all motion is relative. Without reference to the place where an event happens it is not possible to specify uniquely the time when an event happens.When attention is moved from terrestrial to astronomical phenomena, any assumption that the observed motion of an object at a given velocity is unaffected by the velocity of light is dispelled by what is known as the beta factor. (If a space ship was travelling faster than light its true position would be invisible.) In 1915 Einstein developed the Theory of General Relativity in which he considered objects accelerated with respect to one another, using the Principle of Equivalenceto resolve any apparent conflict between laws of relativity and laws of gravity. Given that a quantifiable mass multiplied by squared light velocity is in equilibrium with the energy available from that quantity of mass, it holds that forces produced by gravity (giving rise to the weight of mass) are in every way equivalent to forces produced by acceleration (giving rise to the change of velocity of mass). Newton's hypothesis that every object attracts every other object in direct proportion to its mass, was replaced by the hypothesis that the space-time continuum is curved in the neighbourhood of massive objects, therefore producing fields where gravity and acceleration are equivalent. With matter and energy, space and time, gravitation and acceleration, it really is a question of balance!

Answer 2

Einstein's equation E=mc^2 represents the equivalence of mass and energy. It states that energy (E) is equal to mass (m) times the speed of light (c) squared. This equation shows that mass can be converted into energy, and vice versa, with the speed of light as the conversion factor.