Has it been observed? Is it just theoretical? Is it one of those simple-but-profound things?
EDIT: I really appreciate all the answers, everyone! I do photography. Please accept my photos as gratitude for your effort and expertise!
In: 3715
Can I ask a follow-up question?
What does it *mean* to say that “mass” has been converted into “energy?” I’ve never intuitively understood what energy actually *is* – it always seemed like a number that we use to describe the motion of matter. Energy flows through systems when materials interact, but it never seems to exist beyond being a formalism that describes the behavior of matter.
So when matter is converted “into” energy – where does it go? Is there a moment where “pure” energy exists?
Or is energy here just a fancy word for “light”?
Can I ask a follow-up question?
What does it *mean* to say that “mass” has been converted into “energy?” I’ve never intuitively understood what energy actually *is* – it always seemed like a number that we use to describe the motion of matter. Energy flows through systems when materials interact, but it never seems to exist beyond being a formalism that describes the behavior of matter.
So when matter is converted “into” energy – where does it go? Is there a moment where “pure” energy exists?
Or is energy here just a fancy word for “light”?
I read all the answers, and want to add a detail to get at the scales involved. Many fine answers mention “creation” of mass from various high energy procezses, the LHC, etc. All good.
But how much mass is involved? Are we talking practicality?
Sadly, probably not. For example, a modest uranium fission bomb, say 20 kilotons, converts very roughly 1 gram of mass to energy. So, this process is reversible! How about that! All we need to do (skipping over some important details) is to concentrate all the energy of a 20 kiloton nuke blast into a couple cubic centimeters, all at once, for a few hundred picoseconds, et voilà! A noticeable bit of mass!
Too bad about the lab, though. Probably have to build a new one.
I read all the answers, and want to add a detail to get at the scales involved. Many fine answers mention “creation” of mass from various high energy procezses, the LHC, etc. All good.
But how much mass is involved? Are we talking practicality?
Sadly, probably not. For example, a modest uranium fission bomb, say 20 kilotons, converts very roughly 1 gram of mass to energy. So, this process is reversible! How about that! All we need to do (skipping over some important details) is to concentrate all the energy of a 20 kiloton nuke blast into a couple cubic centimeters, all at once, for a few hundred picoseconds, et voilà! A noticeable bit of mass!
Too bad about the lab, though. Probably have to build a new one.
My understanding is that even a simple spring has more mass when compressed than uncompressed. It’s not more *matter*, but it’s more *mass*.
My understanding is that even a simple spring has more mass when compressed than uncompressed. It’s not more *matter*, but it’s more *mass*.
even photosynthesis converts energy to mass the sugar weighs a minuscule amount more than the atoms that make up the sugar molecule alone the bonds just like the bonds in the nucleus of an atom contain energy so do chemical bonds ,which is mass.
Read this https://www.wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/mobile/2013/10/21/why-is-mass-conserved-in-chemical-reactions/
even photosynthesis converts energy to mass the sugar weighs a minuscule amount more than the atoms that make up the sugar molecule alone the bonds just like the bonds in the nucleus of an atom contain energy so do chemical bonds ,which is mass.
Read this https://www.wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/mobile/2013/10/21/why-is-mass-conserved-in-chemical-reactions/
Heat a cup of coffee – it gets heavier. The change is so small that is imperceptible, but it happens.
Heat a cup of coffee – it gets heavier. The change is so small that is imperceptible, but it happens.
Latest Answers