What is E/mc2?

[ryan2006]

Does it equal zero or one?

[sanctus]

Why should it be zero?

[Buffy]

[math]E=mc^2[/math]

 

[math]\frac{1}{mc^2} \ \cdot \ E=mc^2 \ \cdot \ \frac{1}{mc^2}[/math]

 

[math]\frac{E}{mc^2} = \cancel{mc^2} \ \cdot \ \frac{1}{\cancel{mc^2}}[/math]

 

[math]\frac{E}{mc^2} = \frac{1}{1} = 1[/math]

 

So, yah, 1.

 

Mathematically speaking,

Buffy

[Kutan]

So wait.. What's the difference, whether or not it's equal to 0 or 1? I figure the equation works and that's really all that matters, right?

[alexander]

no not at all, its not that equation works that matters, its HOW and WHY it works that you should be asking yourself!

[Agen]

E=mc2

 

is like

 

8=4x2

 

8 / 4x2 = 8/8=1

 

 

mhmh...:shrug:

[Kutan]

I figured if something equals something, they're going to equal 1.. Not 0. :

[sanctus]

Maybe it was more a philosophical question than a mathematical, that's why I asked why he thinks it should be zero....

[Tormod]

Does it equal zero or one?

 

AFAIK, whenever you take a statement that says X=Y (in any form or shape), then X/Y will have to be 1. If the values are zero we get 0/0 which would also be 1, although there is a slightly philosophical twist to that one.

[sanctus]

Actually 0/0 is indermined. YOu can say it is 1 because 1*0=0 but I can say it is 123.121212 because 123.121212*0=0...this is just the intuitive proof.

[Tormod]

Well, let me rephrase...0/0 "could" get you 1 as well. :weather_storm:

[sanctus]

Yes, and even a cat! :hihi: :) ;)

[ryan2006]

1/1=1 0/0=0 what is the value you place on E=MC2 I thought both somehow but it does seem to be more of a phisopcal question or perhaps a matrix of 1's and 0's

[Tormod]

what is the value you place on E=MC2

 

c squared is the speed of light in vacuum, or 300,000,000 m/second, times itself. So it's a huge figure: 8.98755179*10^16 m^2/s^2. Using this as a constant in the equation means that E and m are variables, and the implication is that a *lot* of energy is yielded by a tiny amount of matter. It also takes a *lot* of energy to create matter.

 

The formula says nothing about the speed or method of conversion, nor does it give any values for E or m.

 

So the examples of 1 and 0 above are just figurative. Since E=mc^2 is basically the same as saying x=y, then 1=1 is *equally valid* - but it is not the *same* equation.

 

I'm probably just confusing this more so I'll shut up now. :pirate:

[Qfwfq]

although there is a slightly philosophical twist to that one.

Slightly philosophical?

 

...the implication is that a *lot* of energy is yielded by a tiny amount of matter. It also takes a *lot* of energy to create matter.

No, it's that we use such tiny units of energy, except for those such as gramme, kilogramme etc.

 

Anyway the answer to the original question is: 1 according to the rest frame and more than 1 according to other frames.

[Tormod]

No, it's that we use such tiny units of energy

 

That's just because people in southern Europe are so, uhm, unassuming (relatively speaking).

[OldBill]

OK Guys - Let's not let this get out of hand. It's pretty simple:

E divided by MC2 = 1; E minus MC2 = 0

 

There, now both one and zero are involved in variants on Einstein....Ryan should be happy, and the rest of you might consider not thinking 'zebras' every time you hear hoof beats.