CIE A Level Physics复习笔记23.1.1 Energy & Mass Equivalence

• Einstein showed in his theory of relativity that matter can be considered a form of energy and hence, he proposed:
  • Mass can be converted into energy
  • Energy can be converted into mass
• This is known as mass-energy equivalence, and can be summarised by the equation:

E = mc²

• Where:
  • E = energy (J)
  • m = mass (kg)
  • c = the speed of light (m s^-1)

• Some examples of mass-energy equivalence are:
  • The fusion of hydrogen into helium in the centre of the sun
  • The fission of uranium in nuclear power plants
  • Nuclear weapons
  • High-energy particle collisions in particle accelerators