1. What is the Mass to Energy Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the energy equivalent of a given mass using Einstein's famous mass-energy equivalence formula.

Purpose: It demonstrates the relationship between mass and energy as described by Einstein's theory of relativity.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Einstein's famous equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Energy (Joules, J)
• \( m \) — Mass (kilograms, kg)
• \( c \) — Speed of light (approximately 3 × 10⁸ m/s)

Explanation: The energy content of mass is calculated by multiplying the mass by the square of the speed of light.

3. Importance of Mass-Energy Equivalence

Details: This principle is fundamental to nuclear physics and explains how nuclear reactions can release enormous amounts of energy from small amounts of matter.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the mass in kilograms and the speed of light in meters per second (default 300,000,000 m/s). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the speed of light squared in the equation?
A: The equation shows that a small amount of mass contains an enormous amount of energy because the speed of light is very large and it's squared.

Q2: Can we convert all mass to energy?
A: In theory yes, but in practice we can only convert a small fraction of mass to energy, as in nuclear reactions.

Q3: How much energy is in 1 kg of mass?
A: Using c = 3×10⁸ m/s, 1 kg would be equivalent to about 9×10¹⁶ joules (90 petajoules).

Q4: Why don't we see this energy in everyday life?
A: The energy remains "locked" in the mass under normal conditions and is only released in nuclear reactions.

Q5: What's the practical application of this equation?
A: It's the principle behind nuclear power and atomic weapons, where small amounts of mass are converted to large amounts of energy.