1. What is E=mc²?

E=mc² is Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula from his Special Theory of Relativity. It states that energy (E) and mass (m) are interchangeable, related by the square of the speed of light (c) in a vacuum.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Einstein's equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Energy in Joules (J)
• \( m \) — Mass in kilograms (kg)
• \( c \) — Speed of light (299,792,458 m/s)

Explanation: The equation shows that a small amount of mass can be converted into a tremendous amount of energy due to the large value of c².

3. Importance of Mass-Energy Equivalence

Details: This principle underlies nuclear reactions, explaining both nuclear power and nuclear weapons. It fundamentally changed our understanding of the relationship between matter and energy.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms (kg). The calculator will compute the equivalent energy in joules (J). For perspective, 1 kg of mass converted completely to energy equals about 90 petajoules.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is c squared in the equation?
A: The squared term comes from the relativistic derivation showing that energy scales with the square of the velocity term.

Q2: Can we convert energy back to mass?
A: Yes, this occurs in particle accelerators where energy is converted to particle-antiparticle pairs.

Q3: Why don't we see this energy in everyday objects?
A: The energy is "locked" in the mass and only released in nuclear reactions or particle annihilations.

Q4: Does this apply to all forms of energy?
A: The equation specifically relates rest mass to rest energy. Other forms of energy have different relationships.

Q5: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It uses the exact speed of light (299,792,458 m/s) and provides precise calculations for any input mass.