tribdog said:the first experiment needed to know the recoil energy, I thought the second one didn't. I know nothing about this, and this is just a layman's guess.
E=mc^2 is a famous equation proposed by Albert Einstein in his theory of special relativity. It states that energy (E) is equal to mass (m) multiplied by the speed of light (c) squared. This equation has been validated numerous times and is considered one of the most important equations in physics.
E=mc^2 has been validated through numerous experiments and observations. One of the most famous experiments was the nuclear reactions carried out by physicist Ernest Rutherford in the early 1900s. The equation has also been validated through observations of the behavior of particles at high speeds and in nuclear reactions.
Skepticism plays an important role in the scientific process and the validation of E=mc^2. It encourages scientists to question and challenge existing theories and to conduct further experiments and observations to support or disprove them. In the case of E=mc^2, skepticism has led to further experiments and observations that have ultimately validated the equation.
Validating E=mc^2 is important because it provides a fundamental understanding of the relationship between energy and mass, which is crucial for understanding the behavior of matter and energy in the universe. It also has practical applications in fields such as nuclear energy and particle physics.
There have been alternative theories proposed to E=mc^2, such as the theory of general relativity proposed by Einstein himself. However, these theories have been tested and found to be consistent with the predictions of E=mc^2. Therefore, E=mc^2 remains the most widely accepted and validated equation in the field of physics.