Can the smart people of SW explain to me "e = mc squared"? Specifically,

First, what is energy? It's a specific quantity that comes in many forms. If you compress a coil spring, you're putting energy in it. If you accelerate a mass, you're giving it kinetic energy. Raise a weight against gravity, you're storing gravitational potential energy. Then there's electrical energy (watts*time) chemical energy thermal energy, etc.

Let's zero in on the mechanical energy: springs, kinetic, gravity. They are all tied together by applying a force thru a distance (the force & distance are in the same direction here; parallel vectors if you like).

So energy is force*distance. What is force? Newton says F=ma, mass*acceleration. What is acceleration? It's change in velocity per unit time. What is velocity? It's change in distance per unit time. SO. putting it all together:
velocity=dist/time,
acceleration=dist/(time²)
force=mass*dist/(time²)
energy=mass*(dist²)/(time²)
Can rewrite it as energy=mass*(velocity²) if we like.

What is a joule? 1 J = 1 kg m²/s²
Those units are kilograms, meters, and seconds, the MKS system.

Finally getting to Einstein, E=mC², the units are right because it's mass times velocity squared. The magnitude is AMAZING because C² is such a huge number. In MKS units, C=300,000,000 m/s ! Call it 0.3 of a billion! Square that and your numbers are astronomical!!

I got a quarter pound burger and in 3 seconds its gone lol

I had to go look this up. Energy is measured in joules, which is a measurement equivalent to kg * (meters squared / seconds squared). So mass is measured in KG and the speed of light in m/s.

You’re right about the magnitude. There is an extraordinary amount of energy stored in the atoms that make up an objects mass.

I studied this way back in school and don't remember much. Say you wanted to figure out the critical mass of U 238 for an atom bomb. First you have to figure out how many joules of energy you needed to achieve fission. Then using stoichiometry the equation would give you the mass required. It's all fairly complicated and I was more than glad to forget it and get on with normal life.

Have you looked up the joule?
https://www.emc2-explained.info/Emc2/Basics.htm

Isn’t the outcome in kilojoules? Otherwise I can’t help, it’s been a long time since I studied this in university.

@helenS this one is for you. I am too old amd tired to look up my physics books!!

First thing you got wrong was saying smart people of SW

Are you familiar with the concept of a Shit Load?

@GlitterEater