Has it been observed? Is it just theoretical? Is it one of those simple-but-profound things?
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Fission and fusion take an input of x mass then something happens and the output is (x minus a tiny bit) mass. This tiny bit is converted to energy via E=mc^2.
Fission and fusion take an input of x mass then something happens and the output is (x minus a tiny bit) mass. This tiny bit is converted to energy via E=mc^2.
As it been observed? Take a look around. Everything you see used to be energy. You included.
As it been observed? Take a look around. Everything you see used to be energy. You included.
Fun and slightly tangential fact: Proton mass is not absolute and does vary (veeery slightly) depending on the element. The closer it comes to iron, the more stable it becomes and the lighter it becomes as it sheds mass into energy. Heavier elements that decay towards being a proton shed some of that mass into energy, and lighter elements that fuse release mass into energy
Fun and slightly tangential fact: Proton mass is not absolute and does vary (veeery slightly) depending on the element. The closer it comes to iron, the more stable it becomes and the lighter it becomes as it sheds mass into energy. Heavier elements that decay towards being a proton shed some of that mass into energy, and lighter elements that fuse release mass into energy
Sunshine can be converted to flowers. Nicht wahr?
Sunshine can be converted to flowers. Nicht wahr?
Energy can spontaneously change into mass. There are nuclear and radiation related processes where this can occur.
A good example is “pair production”. A photon, if it has sufficient energy, can convert into a pair of an electron and positron. The photon needs to have enough energy to cover the energy-mass conversion and nay excess goes into kinetic energy of the particles. Ote that this doesn’t happen spontaneously, it requires the photon to pass extremely close to an atonic nucleus where there is a very strong electromagnetic field, which can trigger the conversion.
Similar, but more complex process can occur at even higher energies.
Energy can spontaneously change into mass. There are nuclear and radiation related processes where this can occur.
A good example is “pair production”. A photon, if it has sufficient energy, can convert into a pair of an electron and positron. The photon needs to have enough energy to cover the energy-mass conversion and nay excess goes into kinetic energy of the particles. Ote that this doesn’t happen spontaneously, it requires the photon to pass extremely close to an atonic nucleus where there is a very strong electromagnetic field, which can trigger the conversion.
Similar, but more complex process can occur at even higher energies.
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