In What Reaction Might Energy Turn into Mass: E=mc²

The Famous Equation

Albert Einstein's famous equation, E=mc², states that energy (E) is equal to mass (m) times the speed of light squared (c²). This equation shows that energy and mass are two forms of the same thing. In other words, energy can be converted into mass, and mass can be converted into energy.

How Energy Can Turn into Mass

One way that energy can turn into mass is through the process of pair production. In pair production, a photon of light interacts with an atomic nucleus and creates an electron and a positron. The electron and positron are both particles with mass, so the total mass of the system has increased.

Another way that energy can turn into mass is through the process of nuclear fusion. In nuclear fusion, two atomic nuclei combine to form a single, heavier nucleus. The mass of the heavier nucleus is less than the mass of the two original nuclei, and the difference in mass is released as energy.

How Mass Can Turn into Energy

Mass can also be converted into energy. One way that this can happen is through the process of nuclear fission. In nuclear fission, a heavy nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei. The mass of the smaller nuclei is less than the mass of the original nucleus, and the difference in mass is released as energy.

Another way that mass can be converted into energy is through the process of annihilation. In annihilation, an electron and a positron collide and produce two photons of light. The mass of the electron and positron is converted into the energy of the photons.

Applications of Mass-Energy Equivalence

The mass-energy equivalence has many applications in science and technology. For example, the mass-energy equivalence is used to:

• Design nuclear weapons
• Power nuclear reactors
• Accelerate particles in particle accelerators
• Create new elements

Conclusion

The mass-energy equivalence is a fundamental law of physics that has many applications in science and technology. The mass-energy equivalence shows that energy and mass are two forms of the same thing, and that they can be converted into each other.

References

1. Einstein, A. (1905). Does the inertia of a body depend upon its energy content? Annalen der Physik, 18(6), 639-641.
2. Fermi, E. (1934). Versuch einer Theorie der Betastrahlen. I. Zeitschrift für Physik, 88(3-4), 161-177.
3. Bethe, H. A. (1939). Energy production in stars. Physical Review, 55(5), 434-456.

Additional Resources

• Mass-energy equivalence
• Pair production
• Nuclear fusion
• Nuclear fission
• Annihilation