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oldunion
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If matter can be converted into energy, why then can energy not be converted into matter?
Energy to Matter: Unlocking E=mc^2
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In summary, matter and energy are essentially the same thing and can be converted into each other. However, it takes a large amount of energy to produce a small amount of mass, which is why we don't often notice this conversion. In General Relativity, energy and mass are treated as different forms of the same "stuff" and both produce gravitational forces. The end of inflation during the Big Bang is a prime example of energy being converted into matter.
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jtbell
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Energy is converted into matter every day at high-energy particle physics laboratories such as Fermilab and CERN. Smash together particles with lots of kinetic energy, and some of that energy goes into the mass of the particles that are created in the collision.
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HallsofIvy
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The point is that BECAUSE e= mc2, and c is a very large number, a small amount of mass produces a huge amount of energy but it takes a huge amount of energy to produce a small amount of mass- energy to mass conversion happens all the time- you just don't notice it because it produces such a small mass!
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pmb_phy
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The term "matter" is too ill defined to correctly answer your question. But for the most part, in SR, ditates that energy of a closed system is always conserved as observed in in inertial frame of reference.oldunion said:
Pete
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oldunion
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how could energy be conserved if you went from it to mass. you would be losing it all over the place, thermal, light, friction
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chroot
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"Energy" is a very generic term. Mass and energy are really essentially the same thing -- that's what E=mc^2 is all about in the first place. If you convert one kind of energy, like radiation, into mass, you're not destroying the energy -- you're locking it up in the form of mass. You could later turn that mass back into the same amount of energy you started with.
In General Relativity, the scientific theory which describes gravitation, energy and mass are treated quite directly as different kinds of the same "stuff." They both, in fact, produce gravitational forces in the same way.
- Warren
In General Relativity, the scientific theory which describes gravitation, energy and mass are treated quite directly as different kinds of the same "stuff." They both, in fact, produce gravitational forces in the same way.
- Warren
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jtbell
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oldunion said:
Because we define an object to have a certain amount of energy (its "rest energy") simply because it has a certain amount of mass, according to [itex]E = mc^2[/itex].
- #8
eNathan
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I think he wants to know this.
if [itex]E= mc^2[/itex] then m= [itex] \frac {E} {c^2}[/itex]
if [itex]E= mc^2[/itex] then m= [itex] \frac {E} {c^2}[/itex]
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- #9
1123581321
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energy can be converted into matter, you just neet a lot of energy to make matter (just look at the formula e=mc2, the speed of light is a very large number, which means very large amounts of energy)
Fibonacci
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- #10
eNathan
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the latex of my above post did not work out. So here goes using ASCII :)
if e=cm^2 then m=c^2/e
if e=cm^2 then m=c^2/e
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moving finger
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Excellent example (if one accepts the inflation hypothesis) is the end of inflation during the Big Bang, when the energy contained in the inflaton field quickly decayed into other particles and fields until eventually the universe consisted mainly of long-lived forms of energy such as protons, neutrons, electrons, neutrinos, photons etc.1 said:
MF
FAQ: Energy to Matter: Unlocking E=mc^2
1. What is the concept of E=mc^2?
The equation E=mc^2 is one of the fundamental principles of modern physics. It states that energy (E) and mass (m) are interchangeable, and the speed of light (c) is the conversion factor between the two. This means that a small amount of mass can be converted into a large amount of energy, and vice versa.
2. Who discovered E=mc^2?
The equation was first proposed by Albert Einstein in his theory of special relativity in 1905. However, it was not until 1911 that he derived the full equation E=mc^2 in his theory of general relativity.
3. How does E=mc^2 relate to nuclear energy?
In nuclear reactions, a small amount of mass is converted into a large amount of energy according to E=mc^2. This is the principle behind nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. The process of nuclear fusion, where atoms combine to release energy, is also governed by this equation.
4. Can E=mc^2 be applied to everyday life?
Yes, E=mc^2 is applicable to everyday life in many ways. For example, the energy released from the sun is a result of mass being converted into energy through nuclear fusion. Additionally, the energy released from burning fossil fuels is also a result of mass being converted into energy.
5. Are there any exceptions to E=mc^2?
While E=mc^2 is a fundamental principle of physics, there are some exceptions to this equation. For example, it does not apply to particles with no rest mass, such as photons. Additionally, in extremely high-energy situations, the equation may need to be modified to account for relativistic effects.