Question

What fact does Einstein's equation E = mcÆ describe? A. energy can be converted to moles to atoms B. energy is stronger than mass C. mass can be converted to energy D. mass is weaker than energy

Answer 1

Einstein's equation E = mc² indicates that mass can be converted to energy, an idea originating from the theory of special relativity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Albert Einstein's equation E = mc² describes the fact that mass can be converted to energy and vice versa. This principle is derived from the theory of special relativity and embodies the idea that mass and energy are two forms of the same thing. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is C. Mass can be converted to energy.

Answer 2

The equation doesn't really make any of those statements.

It says that IF mass and energy can ever undergo some sort of conversion
process, THEN the quantities involved are related according to the equation.

It's as if I were to publish an equation saying that the number of apples is equal to
the number of horses multiplied by the 2014 federal budget. People would look at
the equation and go "Oooooo ! That's a lot of apples !"

But cooler heads would eventually prevail ... somebody in the crowd would say
"But wait a second ! The equation is only a game with numbers. It doesn't say
that horses can be converted into apples." He would be exactly right.

And that's what happened with Einstein's mass/energy relationship too.
The difference is that decades later, when the products of nuclear reactions
began to be measured, it was discovered that whenever atomic nuclei split
into pieces, some of the original mass was missing, and Guess What ! The
amount of energy that came away from the nuclear fission ... in the form of light,
heat, X-rays, gamma rays, and the kinetic energy of the pieces ... was the number
equal to the missing mass multiplied by c² ! That's when they began to say
"Hmmm!", take another look at Einstein's equation, and view him more seriously.