Can someone describe E=mc^2 to me in laymans terms

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    E=mc^2 Terms
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E=mc^2 expresses the principle of mass-energy equivalence, indicating that mass can be converted into energy. The formula states that energy (E) equals mass (m) multiplied by the speed of light (c) squared, highlighting how even small amounts of mass can generate substantial energy. For example, a hydrogen atom, despite its tiny mass, can yield a large energy value when calculated using this equation. This concept illustrates the potential energy contained within matter, emphasizing the relationship between mass and energy. Understanding this principle is crucial for grasping fundamental physics concepts.
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Please do your best to describe E=Mc^2 to me in the most plain English you know and as basic as possible without leaving out details. Any links you think would help would be great.

Thank you
 
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I'm not sure if this really helps:

Energy = Mass*(speed of light)^2

You probably already know this. However, in case you don't, I hope this helps. As you can see, this number can get very large. Anyway, imagine a hydrogen atom - essentially a proton. This hydrogen atom has a very small mass (can't remember what it was in kg). To find the energy of this hydrogen atom- just multiply by the square of the speed of light - which should amount to a fairly large number in comparison to the mass of a hydrogen atom. This is because the theorem above states the amount of energy that the mass would be turned into if it was turned into raw energy!

Once again- hope this helps!
 
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