Energy being Converted to Mass

In summary, the reason why equal amounts of anti-matter must be produced when converting energy into mass during pair production is because of the various conservation laws that must be obeyed. These include the conservation of charge, baryon number, lepton number, energy, and momentum. It is an experimental fact that our universe follows these laws, but the ultimate reason for this is still unknown and cannot be answered by science.
  • #1
Theudius
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Why is it that when energy is converted into mass we must make equal amounts of anti matter as matter during pair production?
 
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  • #2
Are you aware of the various conservation laws that have to be obeyed, or are you asking why these conservation laws must be obeyed?
 
  • #3
Hi, I'm aware that charge, baryon number, lepton number, energy and momentum must be conserved. Yeah I should have asked why these laws must be obeyed.
 
  • #4
Theudius said:
I should have asked why these laws must be obeyed.
It is an experimental fact that the universe we live in obeys these laws. As for why we live in a universe that obeys these laws and not some other laws... that's not something that science can answer.

(Moving beyond a B-level answer: you could google for "Noether's Theorem" and take a look at http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/noether.html to see how conservation laws follow from the symmetries of our universe. But that just moves the "Why?" question around - why do we live in a universe with these particular symmetries and not some others? Sooner or later it comes down to "because that's how it is")
 
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What is the concept of energy being converted to mass?

The concept of energy being converted to mass is known as mass-energy equivalence. It states that energy and mass are interchangeable and can be converted from one form to another, as described by Einstein's famous equation E=mc².

How does this conversion occur?

This conversion can occur through various processes, such as nuclear reactions, where a small amount of mass is converted into a large amount of energy, or in particle accelerators, where high energy particles can be created from colliding beams of lower energy particles.

Why is this conversion important?

This conversion is important because it helps us understand the fundamental nature of matter and energy. It also plays a crucial role in many scientific and technological advancements, such as nuclear energy and medical imaging.

Can mass be converted back into energy?

Yes, according to the law of conservation of mass and energy, mass can be converted back into energy. This is seen in processes such as nuclear fission, where a large nucleus is split into smaller nuclei, releasing a tremendous amount of energy.

Is this conversion always efficient?

No, this conversion is not always 100% efficient. Some amount of mass may be lost during the conversion process due to the release of energy. However, the amount of mass lost is relatively small compared to the amount of energy released.

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