Can you reverse Einstein's famous E=mc^2 equation?

[gabi123]

E=mc^2 states that when you speed up matter to the speed of light, it becomes pure energy, of mc^2 joules. Now, if that is true, can you reverse the equation? Wouldn't energy speed up to the negative speed of light(-c^2), turn into matter? Or is that the wrong balance?

 

[Orodruin]

E=mc^2 states that when you speed up matter to the speed of light, it becomes pure energy, of mc^2 joules.

No it does not state that. It states that the mass in any object corresponds to an equivalent amount of energy - relating the energy of an object to its inertia. Also note that there is no such thing as "pure energy". Energy is a property of matter and fields, not a substance of its own.

Now, if that is true

It is not, so I will not comment on the rest of your post.

 

[lychette]

No it does not state that. It states that the mass in any object corresponds to an equivalent amount of energy - relating the energy of an object to its inertia. Also note that there is no such thing as "pure energy". Energy is a property of matter and fields, not a substance of its own.


It is not, so I will not comment on the rest of your post.

It is true to the extent that a certain amount of energy can be the equivalent amount of mass.

 

[Orodruin]

It is true to the extent that a certain amount of energy can be the equivalent amount of mass.

Did you even read the OP? The first sentence in the OP is simply false and makes no sense in relativity.

 

[lychette]

Did you even read the OP? The first sentence in the OP is simply false and makes no sense in relativity.

I did read the first statement but it in no way contradicts his/her later statement that energy can be converted into mass according to the theory of relativity.
My contribution relates to that second statement.

 

[Orodruin]

I did read the first statement but it in no way contradicts his/her later statement that energy can be converted into mass according to the theory of relativity.
My contribution relates to that second statement.

Please read the statement again. It refers to reversing "when you speed up matter to the speed of light, it becomes pure energy", which is pure nonsense in itself.

 

[Vanadium 50]

which is pure nonsense in itself

Funny, I thought that's what I wrote.

Since the whole premise of this thread is based on something incorrect, what do we have to discuss?

 

[Orodruin]

Funny, I thought that's what I wrote.

Since the hole premise of this thread is based on something incorrect, what do we have to discuss?

It was, but you deleted that post.

At B level, I think the important thing is to straighten out people's misconceptions rather than having a high level discussion. If we cannot do this, then what is the point of a B level thread? Nobody should expect (or engage in!) high level discussions at B level. Having misconceptions - often fueled by popular science - is not directly equivalent to being a crackpot.