Why is there a discrepancy in energy calculations using E=mc²?

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    E=mc^2 Error
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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the discrepancies in energy calculations using the equation E=mc², specifically when substituting different values for the speed of light (c). The correct calculation for c as 300 million m/s yields E = 9 x 10^15 joules, while using 0.3 billion m/s also results in E = 9 x 10^15 joules. The error arises from misunderstanding the multiplication of large numbers, particularly in scientific notation, where 300 million squared is 90,000 million million, not 90,000 million.

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matttan
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I was doing the equation of E=mc^2

So its like this:

If M = 1kg and C=300 million m/s,

Then E= 1 x 300 million x 300 million = 90 000 million joules/90 billion joules

But the qs is,

If I convert c to 0.3 billion m/s,

then E = 1 x 0.3 billion x 0.3 billion = 0.09 billion joules

Why are both different? Can anyone explain the error?

Thanks (:
 
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Neither of these answers are right. (3*10^8)^2 = 9*10^16
 
300 million x 300 million = [itex](300 \times 10^6) \times (300 \times 10^6) = (300^2) \times 10^{12} = (9 \times 10^4) \times 10^{12} = 9 \times 10^{15}[/itex]
while
0.3 billion x 0.3 billion = [itex](0.3 \times 10^9) \times (0.3 \times 10^9) = (0.3^2) \times 10^{18} = (9 \times 10^{-2}) \times 10^{18}) = 9 \times 10^{15}[/itex].

I think your problem is that you are writing
300 million x 300 million = 90000 million
while it is actually
90000 million million.

Scientific notation is handy! :)
 

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