E = mc2 general understanding

Tonight I actually sat down read about the famous equation E = mc2. I'd heard it many times but never bothered to understand what it all means. Essentially it is a formula to convert the mass of an object to energy. Therefore understanding that anything that has mass, has an equivalent amount of energy and vice versa. Energy = mass x speed of light squared. I'm a science novice so would like to know from greater minds if my understanding of this is correct?

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Northwest · M

This is called the Mass-Energy Equivalence principle, part of Special Relativity, but it also describes a body's intrinsic energy at rest, but this energy remains the same independent of movement.

If the conversion is complete, the amount of Invariant Energy is massive. This explains why it does not take much mass, to produce a massive energy release, in the form of a nuclear weapon.

Laughman · 46-50, M

@Northwest so essentially the greater the mass, the greater the amount of energy? This makes sense, however is this variable based on the type of material mass? Surely 1kg of sugar is going to contain more energy than say 1kg of grass? Again sorry I'm a complete novice and just trying to grasp the principles of it all.

Northwest · M

@Laughman Mass and weight, are not the same. Mass is the amount of matter in an object, while weight is equal is a measure of how gravity acts on that object. For the purposes of this discussion, and assuming we're not moving, then weight is the same as mass.

In that case, 1 Kg of sugar, has in it the same amount of energy as 1 Kg of grass, if you can have complete energy release. The problem is that how you can get the grass to release its energy. This is why it's not easy for anyone to make a nuke in their garage workshop.

Laughman · 46-50, M

@Northwest thanks for you explanation. Yes you are right. I was thinking of mass being the same as weight, which you correctly pointed out is not correct. I'll have to watch some videos to learn more.

ImperialAerosolKidFromEP · 46-50, M

Correctamundo!

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