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santhony
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If the law of conservation of mass states, in a closed system mass is never lost, how is it, when matter is annihilated, effectively creating photons (which are not considered to be matter) does this law stand true?
jarednjames said:Sorry santhony, I don't think we need to go through this again.
The word vacuum refers specifically to an area of space devoid of matter. It is only meant to define a lack of matter, nothing else.
Just because they are combined as above, doesn't make them equivalent under the definition. Matter is matter, energy is energy so far as a vacuum is concerned.
If you had an area with a gas cloud of matter and anti-matter, that wouldn't be a vacuum. But, if they annihilated each other you are left with a vacuum.
There's already a four page thread on this, I don't think you need another one.
santhony said:Don't make the mistake of codifying scientific definitions as religionists codify their beliefs. Eventhough everyone seems to agree with something doesn't necessarily make it right.
And, this thread is not about vacuums. It's about the conservation of mass.
santhony said:Then, why is a "vacuum" defined as the absence of matter but not of energy?
santhony said:photons (which are not considered to be matter)
jarednjames said:We spent four pages discussing exactly what you just asked in your last thread.
The law of conservation of mass states that in a closed system, mass cannot be created or destroyed. This means that the total mass of substances before and after a chemical reaction or physical change remains the same.
The conservation of mass is important because it is a fundamental principle in chemistry and physics. It helps us understand and predict the outcome of chemical reactions and physical changes. It also allows us to track the movement and transformation of matter in natural systems.
The conservation of mass and the conservation of energy are closely related and together form the law of conservation of mass-energy. This law states that the total mass and energy in a closed system are constant and can only be transferred or converted from one form to another.
In everyday life, the law of conservation of mass holds true. However, in extreme conditions such as nuclear reactions or when dealing with subatomic particles, mass can be converted into energy and vice versa, as stated by Einstein's famous equation E=mc^2. In these cases, the total mass-energy of the system remains constant.
The conservation of mass is measured using various techniques such as weighing, volume measurements, and chemical analysis. These methods allow us to determine the mass of substances before and after a reaction or change, and ensure that the mass remains constant, thus confirming the law of conservation of mass.