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Einstein's Mass-Energy Equivalence:
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Einstein's famous equation E = mc² demonstrates the relationship between mass and energy. It shows that mass can be converted into energy and vice versa, which is fundamental to understanding nuclear reactions and particle physics.
The calculator uses Einstein's equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation calculates the enormous amount of energy that would be released if a given amount of mass were completely converted to energy.
Details: This calculation is crucial for understanding nuclear reactions, particle physics, and the energy potential contained within matter. It explains the enormous energy released in nuclear fission and fusion reactions.
Tips: Enter the mass defect in kilograms. The mass must be a positive value. The result shows the equivalent energy in joules that would be released if this mass were converted to energy.
Q1: What is mass defect?
A: Mass defect refers to the difference in mass between the initial components and the final products in a nuclear reaction, which is converted to energy.
Q2: Why is the speed of light squared in the equation?
A: The c² term represents the conversion factor between mass and energy, showing that a small amount of mass can produce an enormous amount of energy.
Q3: What are practical applications of E = mc²?
A: Nuclear power generation, nuclear weapons, medical radiation therapy, and understanding stellar energy production in stars.
Q4: Can ordinary matter be converted to energy?
A: While theoretically all matter contains energy, complete conversion to energy only occurs in matter-antimatter annihilation. Nuclear reactions convert only a small fraction of mass to energy.
Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically exact according to Einstein's theory of relativity, given accurate mass measurements.