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Einstein's Equation:
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Einstein's famous equation E=mc² shows that energy (E) and mass (m) are interchangeable. This principle is fundamental to understanding nuclear reactions and the relationship between matter and energy.
The calculator uses Einstein's equation:
Where:
Explanation: This equation demonstrates that a small amount of mass can be converted into a tremendous amount of energy, which is why nuclear reactions release so much energy.
Details: This principle is crucial for understanding how stars produce energy, how nuclear power works, and even how the sun shines. It's one of the most famous equations in all of physics.
Tips: Enter energy in Joules and the speed of light in meters per second. The speed of light is pre-filled with its standard value of 299,792,458 m/s, but you can change it if needed for educational purposes.
Q1: Why is the speed of light squared in the equation?
A: The c² term shows that a tiny amount of mass can produce an enormous amount of energy because the speed of light is such a large number (about 300 million m/s).
Q2: Can we actually convert mass directly into energy?
A: Yes! This happens in nuclear reactions like those in the sun or in nuclear power plants, where a small amount of mass is converted into a large amount of energy.
Q3: Why don't we notice mass turning into energy in everyday life?
A: The conversion factor (c²) is so enormous that the mass changes in chemical reactions are too small to measure with ordinary scales.
Q4: How much energy is in 1 gram of mass?
A: About 90 trillion Joules! That's enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for about 28,000 years.
Q5: Did Einstein invent the atomic bomb?
A: No, but his equation E=mc² explained the theoretical possibility of releasing enormous amounts of energy from small amounts of matter, which contributed to the development of nuclear technology.