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curiousat61
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I’m obviously looking at this the wrong way but…..with reference to the formula e = mc2 isn’t “c” (the speed of light) a constant? So if that is true doesn’t c2 (or any other multiple of c) equal c?
##c^2## isn't a speed, it's a speed squared, and has different units. You cannot compare the two, because ##c## and ##c^2## have different physical units.curiousat61 said:Thank you for the replies. I'm beginning to see the "light"...
Yes.curiousat61 said:I’m obviously looking at this the wrong way
Maybe, you believe due to bad formatting and wrong interpreting of it, that the formula is ##e= mc *2##, but it means ##e=mc^2=m*c*c##.curiousat61 said:…..with reference to the formula e = mc2 isn’t “c” (the speed of light) a constant? So if that is true doesn’t c2 (or any other multiple of c) equal c?
curiousat61 said:I’m obviously looking at this the wrong way but…..with reference to the formula e = mc2 isn’t “c” (the speed of light) a constant? So if that is true doesn’t c2 (or any other multiple of c) equal c?
The "c" in the formula e = mc2 represents the speed of light in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second.
The "c2" in the formula e = mc2 represents the speed of light squared, which is a mathematical operation that involves multiplying the speed of light by itself.
The relationship between c and c2 is crucial in the formula e = mc2 because it allows for the conversion of mass into energy. The speed of light squared is a very large number, and when multiplied by the mass of an object, it results in a huge amount of energy.
The relationship between c and c2 is a constant, meaning that the speed of light in a vacuum and its square value remain the same regardless of the observer's frame of reference. This is a fundamental principle in the theory of relativity.
Understanding the relationship between c and c2 has contributed to numerous scientific advancements, such as the development of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. It has also helped scientists better understand the nature of matter and the universe as a whole.