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FlipUnderwood
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I am not a dummy but for the life of me, I do not understand why 'c' is squared in Einstein's equation. Math has never been my strength. What purpose does squaring a number (multiplying it by itself) serve?
Matterwave said:It's pretty weird to "see" E=mc^2. I guess for someone who hasn't studied special relativity, this equation seems kind of like a postulate. But really, Einstein derived this equation, and it can be derived using the postulates of special relativity (in a not-too difficult way).
FlipUnderwood said:I am not a dummy but for the life of me, I do not understand why 'c' is squared in Einstein's equation. Math has never been my strength. What purpose does squaring a number (multiplying it by itself) serve?
FlipUnderwood said:I am not a dummy but for the life of me, I do not understand why 'c' is squared in Einstein's equation. Math has never been my strength. What purpose does squaring a number (multiplying it by itself) serve? z
The 'c' in Einstein's equation, E=mc^2, represents the speed of light. When squared, it represents the conversion factor between mass and energy, showing that a small amount of mass can produce a large amount of energy.
The 'c' in Einstein's equation stands for the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second in a vacuum.
Yes, 'c' represents a constant value in Einstein's equation, as the speed of light does not change in a vacuum. This allows for a consistent conversion factor between mass and energy.
Einstein's equation, E=mc^2, is important in physics as it explains the relationship between mass and energy, showing that they are interchangeable and that even a small amount of mass can produce a significant amount of energy.
Yes, Einstein's equation, E=mc^2, can be applied to all types of energy, as it demonstrates the fundamental relationship between mass and energy. However, it is most commonly used in the context of nuclear reactions and particle physics.