matter and energy

[The_Chaos_Seer]

Quite true - matter is viewed as nothing more than "condensed energy".

In fact, it is the relationship between mass and energy that is postulated in the most famous equation of all:

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In this equation, the actual energy stored in any mass is plainly given, where C represents the velocity of light. C is a pretty huge number, and is obviously even bigger squared. That in itself should give you an inkling of the massive amounts of energy stored in matter.


EDIT: Hm, I can't seem to use superscript here - but hopefully the equation is familar enough, even if it is technically incorrectly written in this post.

How can you compare the energy stored within matter to the velocity of light? Isn't the velocity and energy two totally different ideas? Wouldn't then comparing the speed of light and saying that that's what constitutes the amount of energy in matter be purely speculation?

 

[FriendRob]

How can you compare the energy stored within matter to the velocity of light? Isn't the velocity and energy two totally different ideas? Wouldn't then comparing the speed of light and saying that that's what constitutes the amount of energy in matter be purely speculation?

It's no longer speculation, it's well-established fact. A particle and its antiparticle (electron and positron, for example) can collide and release "pure energy" in the form of photons. The energy of the photons adds up precisely to the mc^2 predicted by Einstein. (Actually, twice that amount, since there are two particles.)