Many years ago, Einstein theorized the interdependence of matter and energy in the famous equation :
E = mc^2
where,
E = Energy dissipated by body of given mass
m= Mass of the body
c=Speed of light (2.8e8 m/s approximately)
This equation is considered the most basic pillar of quantum physics, a subject on which i have negligible knowledge. quantum physics/mechanics is supposedly different from natural physics because the quantities involved are either too huge or too small, to such an extent at which normal physical laws break down and situations are more often than not, termed anomalies.
what is an anomaly ? an electron was considered the basic unit of matter a couple of decades ago. its splitting was termed an anomaly at first. " what the hell !" :P
anyway... what i wanted to talk about in this post was.... what exactly does E=mc^2 means ?
for years this equation has remained an enigma of sorts..
how to change mass into energy ? what will be the outcome if we do manage to accomplish it ? Nuclear fission caused Hiroshima and Nagasaki. E=mc^2 might as well cause Solar System. and rest assured this is not an exaggeration.
According to Einstein, the only way to change matter into energy is to accelerate it to the speed of light. at that point it is said that the complete mass will turn into pure energy. this, however, has never been achieved. any body, however small, cannot even approach the speed of light. why ? because, the force needed to accerlate body is directly proportional to the present speed of the body. in other words, the faster the body is going, more force is required to accelerate it. in fact, the faster the body goes, the more weight(resistance) it offers to the force being applied upon it.
technically speaking, no body which has a mass can even get NEAR the speed of light which is regarded as the infinite speed ( nothing as yet can move faster than light). just before the speed of light, the body will theoretically have infinite mass requiring infinite amount of force to accelerate it infinitely.
too many infinites in that sentence eh ?
infinity.... the bane of mathematicians and physicists alike
and so... we see the irony of E=mc^2
many would regard this as a useless discussion....
but before Columbus, discussing earth was round was also termed useless...
