Explain E=mc2

Question

Can anyone help me where Einstein's E=mc2 can be used

Answer 1

E = mc²

• E = energy
• m = mass
• c = the speed of light

 

E = mc² is the mass-energy equivalence equation.  It tells us that mass and energy are the same thing (energy) and provides the exchange rate between the two (c²).  It's like dollars and euros are both types of currency, and the exchange rate is 1.06 (at the moment): Dollars = Euros*1.06.  That is, you get $1.06 for every Euro you exchange.

 

The equivalence of mass and energy tells us that mass can be converted to energy and vice versa, just like you can convert between dollars and euros.  The constant c² tells us how much energy or mass we get in the conversion.  Since c is a large number (c²=9*10¹⁶ m/s), a small amount of mass converts to a whole lot of energy.  An atomic bomb converts about 2 kg of mass into energy and makes a rather large explosion.  We also convert mass to energy in nuclear reactors to generate electricity.

Answer 2

The Einstein's famous formula is applied in several places, albeit most of them are not practical. I will provide some practical examples below:

1. Nuclear Power Plants: Although it is a thermal power station the source of heat comes from nuclear reactors. The nuclear reactor has the ability of controlled fission reactions, in which some radioactive element goes into fission (splits into two). It turns out that the sum of the masses of two daughter nuclei as a result of this fission is not the same as it was in the original nucleus. The missing mass would, therefore, be converted into energy as Philip P. has explained. 
2. Atomic Bombs: Warning!!! (This should be avoided at all costs, except when it is used against the asteroids that are in the direction of our planet that may have a significant impact on the biological lives). The same method as described in #2 is used in atomic bombs. The source of the explosion force is again nuclear chain reactions that each produce an amount of energy by converting mass. 
   
   

E = m c² also makes the basis of the fundamental science such as Physics, and is therefore used whenever it is needed.