1. What is the Mass to Energy Calculator?

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

Purpose: It demonstrates the relationship between mass and energy, fundamental to nuclear physics and relativity.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula:

Where:

• \( E \) — Energy (Joules, J)
• \( m \) — Mass (kilograms, kg)
• \( c \) — Speed of light (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 Calculation

Details: This equation underpins nuclear energy, explains the energy output of stars, and is fundamental to modern physics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the mass in kilograms and the speed of light in m/s (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 squared term shows that a tiny amount of mass contains an enormous amount of energy due to the speed of light's large value.

Q2: What's a practical example of this equation?
A: In nuclear reactions, a small amount of mass is converted to a large amount of energy (as in atomic bombs or nuclear power plants).

Q3: Can I change the speed of light value?
A: The speed of light is a fundamental constant (299,792,458 m/s exactly), but you can adjust it for educational purposes.

Q4: How much energy is in 1 kg of mass?
A: About 89,875,517,873,681,764 J (≈ 90 petajoules) - equivalent to 21.5 megatons of TNT.

Q5: Why don't we see this energy in everyday objects?
A: The energy remains bound as mass unless released through nuclear reactions; chemical reactions release only a tiny fraction.