What is the meaning of the speed of light "squared"?

In summary: Mass can be multiplied by velocity because they are both physical dimensions. However, colour cannot be multiplied by velocity because they are not physical dimensions.
  • #1
RandyD123
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I'm not sure how the speed of light squared makes any sense? What is MASS X C2?
 
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  • #2
RandyD123 said:
I'm not sure how the speed of light squared makes any sense?
What about it doesn't make sense?
RandyD123 said:
What is MASS X C2?
Energy.

If you are asking why is it squared, the answer lies in dimensional analysis.
 
  • #3
I see it as something like 22=4 and 42=16. So I don't get how we "double" the speed of light?
 
  • #4
RandyD123 said:
I see it as something like 22=4 and 42=16. So I don't get how we "double" the speed of light?
I'd review your exponents before asking these question. Squaring and doubling are not the same thing. 42=16, not 8.
 
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  • #5
Isaac0427 said:
I'd review your exponents before asking these question. Squaring and doubling are not the same thing. 42=16, not 8.
I see 16?
 
  • #6
Consider the units of mc2:

[kg]·[m/s]2 = kg·m2/s2 = J (joules) which is a unit of energy.

The c2 is basically a unit-conversion factor between kg and J.
 
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  • #7
RandyD123 said:
I see 16?
Yes, 42=4*4=16. Similarly, c2=c*c.
 
  • #8
jtbell said:
Consider the units of mc2:

[kg]·[m/s]2 = kg·m2/s2 = J (joules) which is a unit of energy.

The c2 is basically a unit-conversion factor between kg and J.
I'd just like to expand on this so the OP doesn't get confused:
1 joule does NOT equal about 9*109 (c2) kilograms. It is saying that one kilogram of mass times c2 will give you one "kilogram" of energy (or I should say the amount of mass energy one kilogram of mass has).
 
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  • #9
Isaac0427 said:
Yes, 42=4*4=16. Similarly, c2=c*c.
Well, that's where the problem is, they are similar but not the same thing.

Take number 4. Then 4*4=16, which is a number 4 times higher.

Take c, which is about 3*108 m/s. Then c2=c*c=9*1016 m2/s2. Then c2 is not simply 3*108 times higher than c. It is 3*108 m/s higher than c. Their different physical dimensions (or units) mean that c and c2 are not the same kind of quantity, like both were numbers. They are different kinds of physical quantities and they cannot be compared.

It's just like one cannot say that 16 geese is 4 times more than 4 houses.
 
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  • #10
Gigel said:
It's just like one cannot say that 16 geese is 4 times more than 4 houses.
Or a more precise analogy:
One cannot say that 16 square meters of area is 4 time more than 4 meters distance.
 
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  • #11
Gigel said:
Well, that's where the problem is, they are similar but not the same thing.

Take number 4. Then 4*4=16, which is a number 4 times higher.

Take c, which is about 3*108 m/s. Then c2=c*c=9*1016 m2/s2. Then c2 is not simply 3*108 times higher than c. It is 3*108 m/s higher than c. Their different physical dimensions (or units) mean that c and c2 are not the same kind of quantity, like both were numbers. They are different kinds of physical quantities and they cannot be compared.

It's just like one cannot say that 16 geese is 4 times more than 4 houses.
Correct, I chose to leave the units out of it however, just to explain the concept of exponentiation. I mentioned dimensional analysis in an earlier post.
 
  • #12
Gigel said:
It's just like one cannot say that 16 geese is 4 times more than 4 houses.

Would it be wrong to say: "I have four times as many geese as chickens"?

The relationship between numbers and physical quantities is, perhaps, surprisingly subtle.

For example: if you have 4 rows of 4 marbles, then you have 16 marbles, not 16 square marbles. Yet, 4m by 4m is 16##m^2##.

Also, mass x velocity = momentum, but mass + velocity makes no sense.

Yet: 1 goose + 1 chicken makes sense, whereas, what would be meant by goose x chicken is not so clear!
 
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  • #13
PeroK said:
Would it be wrong to say: "I have four times as many geese as chickens"?
Nope. In your example you are counting animals. If you were measuring your livestock, it would be different. That's why in estimating livestock cows and sheep don't count the same.
 
  • #14
Gigel said:
Nope. In your example you are counting animals. If you were measuring your livestock, it would be different. That's why in estimating livestock cows and sheep don't count the same.

You're missing my point, though. We all know when we see a specific example what makes sense and what doesn't, but the general rules seem to be more complicated than at first sight.

For example, why can you multiply mass by velocity, but not colour by velocity? It's obvious you can't but why? That's not so obvious, when you think about it.

And, I think 4 x 4m = 16m (line) and 4m x 4m = 16##m^2## (area) is quite interesting as well. It's like two different types of physical multiplication. I think that's quite interesting. Maybe it's just me.
 
  • #15
PeroK said:
It's like two different types of physical multiplication. I think that's quite interesting. Maybe it's just me.
The operation of multiplication is 'outside' the choice of the dimensions of the quantities being multiplied.
 
  • #16
  • #17
PeroK said:
Would it be wrong to say: "I have four times as many geese as chickens"?

The relationship between numbers and physical quantities is, perhaps, surprisingly subtle.

For example: if you have 4 rows of 4 marbles, then you have 16 marbles, not 16 square marbles. Yet, 4m by 4m is 16##m^2##.

Also, mass x velocity = momentum, but mass + velocity makes no sense.

Yet: 1 goose + 1 chicken makes sense, whereas, what would be meant by goose x chicken is not so clear!
A metre is one-dimensional. Squaring it makes it 2-dimensional. It is no longer a metre but a square metre. If you have 4 rows of 4 square metres you also have 16 square metres just like you have 16 marbles. Study dimensional analysis as mentioned above and all will become clear.
 
  • #18
I seem to recall an ancient Greek theorem about squaring a circular cow, but for the life of me I can't find it...

RandyD123 said:
I'm not sure how the speed of light squared makes any sense? What is MASS X C2?

It's simply a conversion factor to get from one unit of measurement to another. Kind of like how lbs = 0.453592*kg. I say "kind of" because I'm sure there are some subtle differences that I'm not familiar with.
 
  • #19
RandyD123 said:
I see it as something like 22=4 and 42=16. So I don't get how we "double" the speed of light?

When you double a speed you get another speed. When you square a speed you don't get another speed.

It makes sense to say something moves at speed c. It doesn't make sense to say something moves at speed c².

In the relation ##E_o=mc^2##, ##c^2## is not a speed. It's simply a factor used to convert units of mass into units of energy. Note that there are systems of units where energy and mass already have the same units, in which case ##c^2=1##, so ##E_o=m##.

Regardless of the system of units used, ##E_o=mc^2## is a statement that mass ##m## and rest energy ##E_o## are equivalent. In other words, two things that we used to think were different are instead the same. That's all there is to it.
 
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1. What is the equation for calculating the speed of light squared?

The equation for calculating the speed of light squared is E=mc², where E represents energy, m represents mass, and c represents the speed of light.

2. Why is the speed of light squared used in equations?

The speed of light squared is used in equations because it represents the conversion factor between mass and energy. This means that mass and energy are interchangeable and can be converted into each other using this equation.

3. What is the significance of the speed of light squared?

The significance of the speed of light squared is that it is a fundamental constant in the theory of relativity, which describes the relationship between space and time. It also plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of particles at high speeds and in nuclear reactions.

4. How is the speed of light squared related to the speed of light?

The speed of light squared is equal to the speed of light (c) multiplied by itself, or c². This relationship shows that the speed of light is a very large number and has a significant impact on the laws of physics.

5. Is the speed of light squared always constant?

Yes, the speed of light squared is a constant value and does not change. This is one of the fundamental principles of the theory of relativity and has been confirmed through numerous experiments and observations.

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