E=mc 2 By John Liberatore Disclaimer: Picture content does not belong to author.

Table of Contents Page 3 – How do I calculate E=mc 2 ? Page 4 – How is E=mc 2 so destructive? Page 5 – Was Einstein the first to think of E=mc 2 ? Page 6 – Conclusion Page 7 – Glossary Page 8 – Index Page 9 – Bibliography

How do I calculate E=mc 2 ? You have to calculate c 2 first, which is the speed of light times itself. c 2 is E+12 meters per second. “E+12” means there are 12 zeroes after the number. Then you need the “m”. “m” stands for the mass, in kilograms. “mc 2 ” together means “m” times E+12. So then you have the energy (in joules). If something had a mass of one kilogram, then it could be converted into E+12 joules of energy.

How is E=mc 2 so destructive? With this astonishing new formula that Einstein came up with, German scientists saw this as a weapon and started making one right away. Einstein was afraid of what Germany might do if they were the first to make one of these atomic weapons, and he wrote a desperate letter to the president asking him to make these atomic bombs. That was how World War II was fought. With atomic bombs based off Einstein’s formula E=mc 2.

Was Einstein the first to think of E=mc 2 ? In fact, no. Einstein hadn’t. Hasenöhrl was the first to think of this equation, but he did it slightly incorrect. His equation was “E = 3/8c 2 ”. Another scientist thought that atoms interacted with their own fields: “E 0 = 3/4mc 2 ”. The world would never have came up with a correct equation for special relativity if Albert Einstein hadn’t come up and said “E=mc 2 ”.

Conclusion So in conclusion, E=mc 2 explains how much energy an object can produce, thus leading to the atomic bomb. Yes, E=mc 2 has become so famous over the years that eventually it has become a symbol of math. It hasn’t become any easier to understand, though.

Glossary joule (joōl) noun. a form of energy equal to around 0.23 calories. atomic (əˈtämˈik) adjective. using the explosion from smashing an atom. special relativity noun. a theory stating that the speed of light and the laws of physics are always the same.

Index atomic bomb. 4, 6 E=mc Germany. 4 Hasenöhrl. 5 joule. 3, 6 relativity. 5, 8 speed of light. 3 World War II. 4

Bibliography Wishinsky, Frieda. Albert Einstein. ©2005 DK Publishing. pix/abomb.jpg pix/abomb.jpg Brallier, Jess. Who was Albert Einstein?. ©2002 Grosset & Dunlap