Einstein's equation, \(E=mc^2\), is a fundamental principle of modern physics known as mass-energy equivalence. This concept signifies that mass and energy are two forms of the same thing, interconnected in such a way that they can be converted into one another. Before Einstein's discovery, energy and mass were considered completely separate entities. His equation demonstrated that a small amount of mass can be transformed into a significant amount of energy, exemplified by atomic reactions.
Imagine energy as the capacity to cause change or do work, and mass as a measure of an object's inertia or resistance to motion. In Einstein's equation, this relationship is represented as the product of mass \(m\) and the square of the speed of light \(c^2\).
- \(E\) represents energy, a measurable quantity that can be transferred between systems.
- \(m\) represents mass, the quantity of matter in an object.
- \(c\), the speed of light, is a constant that bridges these two concepts.
Einstein's mass-energy equivalence has practical implications, such as in nuclear energy and understanding particle physics.