Can Mass Be Directly Created According to E=MC^2?

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    Creation E=mc^2 Mass
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of the equation E=mc², specifically whether mass can be directly created or converted from energy. Participants explore theoretical and practical aspects of mass-energy conversion, including examples like pair production and the energy released in nuclear reactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that E=mc² indicates mass can be converted into energy, raising the question of whether mass can also be created from energy.
  • Another participant states that mass can indeed be created from energy under certain conditions, citing pair production as an example.
  • A different viewpoint emphasizes that mass is a form of energy and discusses the conservation of total energy, which includes mass energy, kinetic energy, and potential energy.
  • One participant notes that while mass can be converted to energy in nuclear reactions, the conversion of energy back into mass is less understood and not widely applicable in practical scenarios.
  • Another participant mentions the practical application of pair production in PET scanning, highlighting the complexities of mass-energy interactions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the creation of mass from energy, with some asserting it is possible under certain conditions while others highlight the limitations and challenges in practical applications. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the feasibility and implications of these conversions.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of mass-energy conversion and the current limitations in understanding and applying these concepts in practical situations.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying physics, particularly in the areas of energy-mass equivalence, nuclear physics, and theoretical physics.

Epic Sandwich
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First of all, if anything in this post is incorrect I'm sorry. My physics is still developing and I hope to learn a lot here!

So, E=MC^2 states that mass can be converted directly into energy, and a he'll of a lot of it, correct? However, energy cannot be created or destroyed, only distributed, also correct?

So, does this mean mass can not be directly created, or does E=MC^2 simply provide an imbalance of energy that can't be explained? I would like an explanation because this has been bugging me for a while now :).

Thank you everyone, hope you understand what I'm trying to say!
 
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E=mc^2 works both ways. Specifically, under the right circumstances mass can be converted from energy. Pair production (gamma ray -> electron positron pair) is the simplest example.
 
Probably the best way to think about [tex]E=mc^2[/tex] is that mass is a form of energy. For example, the mass of an electron is just the energy that an electron has that is not due to its motion or interaction with other objects. The total energy of an object is mass energy + energy of motion (kinetic energy) + energy of interaction (potential energy). In general, if the circumstances are right, any form of energy could be converted into any other form of energy, mass energy included. Total energy is always conserved, but you have to include all types of energy for that to work out.

In case you are wondering the formula for the energy of a moving body is [tex]E^2 = (mc^2)^2 + (pc)^2[/tex] where [tex]p[/tex] is the momentum of the object. Notice that when [tex]p=0[/tex] you get back [tex]E=mc^2[/tex]. Also notice that when [tex]m=0[/tex] (massless particles, e.g. photons) [tex]E=pc[/tex]. This is the relationship between the energy and momentum of a photon or any other massless particle.
 
In a typical atomic bomb, we are able to convert only a few percent of the mass but that still yields as huige amount of energy...because in mc2 the factor c is reallyeally big.

On the other hand we are even more deficient in our knolwedge of converting energy into mass...I don't believe we have much of a practical means to do so in all too many practical applications.

So while your physics may be developing as you say, so is mankinds...on the other hand:

(gamma ray -> electron positron pair) is the simplest example.

those particles would quickly annihilate and "disappear" ...and yet we have been able to harness that process for PET scanning...a nuclear medicine imaging technique...see Wikiepdia for details...
 
Thanks for all the replies, I think I get it out! Definitely going to read more into the subject however. Thanks again for your help.
 

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