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E=MC2

  
 
akira
15:50 / 20.10.03
E=MC2 - Einstein's theory of relativity.

Anyone care to explain this in Lister ala Red Dwarf terms. ie Im thick.
 
 
grant
18:51 / 20.10.03
The "stuff" that makes up solid matter (like this computer) and the "stuff" that makes up energy (like the light coming out of the monitor) is the same "stuff". It's just sped up as fast as anything can go when it's energy.
 
 
akira
19:45 / 20.10.03
E = mc² means that the energy released by the destruction of mass is the mass destroyed multiplied by the speed of light (c) squared. In real terms, this means that if 50g of mass, which is about the weight of a chocolate bar, were transformed into energy, you could run Princeton University's campus (12MW average consumption) for an entire year! In contrast, if you eat that chocolate bar and burn it chemically in your system, all you might be good for is a short jog.
 
 
SMS
03:13 / 21.10.03
One postulate of the theory of relativity is that the laws of physics are the same at all times and places in the universe.

The other postulate is that the speed of light, in a vacuum, measured in an inertial reference frame, is a constant c.

If I recall correctly, all you need is infinite mathematical capability, combined with the above info to understand all of special relativity. You might need some background in Newtonian mechanics, but since you have infinite mathematical abilities, here it is: Force = dp/dt, where p is momentum.

General relativity can probably be figured out from making the added assumption that gravity and acceleration are indistinguishable in terms of their effect on the curvature of space-time. I'm not entirely certain that's all you need, but I'm pretty sure.
 
 
odd jest on horn
13:00 / 27.10.03
Special Relativity:
SM said:
One postulate of the theory of relativity is that the laws of physics are the same at all times and places in the universe.

The other postulate is that the speed of light, in a vacuum, measured in an inertial reference frame, is a constant c.

So taking these postulates we get this:
A and B are moving toward each other at some speed v.
B emits light at A.
We would assume that the speed of the light seen by A would be c+v.
Actually (postulate 2) it is c.

Why did this happen? Because time is not experienced in the same way by either guy when observed by other guy. Seen from A's viewpoint B's clock is actually moving faster than his clock, and since speed = distance/time the speed of light conveniently becomes c :-)

Actually that's only one part of it. Since momentum (mass*speed) can't change and the speed does, through the time warp, mass has to change too. So when you go fast (have more energy) compared to someone, you're actually heavier, seen from them than if you weren't moving. That works both ways so that's where E = mc^2 comes from basically. Finally, so everything fits there's some shrinkage too in the direction you're travelling. Can't explain that in words, it all comes out of the equations :-)

Anywhoo
General relativity (not too sure about this one, but the gist):

Ok, so laws of physics are the same everywhere. So what about inertia?
I mean you can feel when you're accelerating can't you?

Uh-uh says Einstein. If you we're in an elevator which' cable snapped on earth you'd be falling with constant acceleration, however you wouldn't really feel the acceleration, you'd just be weightless.

OTOH if you were in an elevator out in space accelerating constantly upwards 9.8m/s^2, you'd feel like you were in a stationary elevator on Earth.

So this led Einstein to say (10 years after special relativity):
Gravity and acceleration is the same. But that means that c would not be the same for people in a gravity well, i.e. on Earth. But it must be. Hence: Gravity distorts space and time too. Basically :-P

Never did the equations for general relativity so it's a bit wishywashy :-)

Did it help though?
 
 
Quantum
13:48 / 27.10.03
Well explained!
 
 
cusm
16:55 / 27.10.03
The temporal distortions with regard to the speed of light seem awfully screwy, but it makes a bit more sense when you think of it as Information not being able to exceed the speed of light. Especially as light is usually the medium by which information is perceived. Otherwise, this might create a race condition, and the coders of the Matrix were smarter than to let that happen.
 
 
LVX23
23:58 / 27.10.03
As Akira noted, Einstein's equation shows that an incredible amount of energy is bound up in even the minutest amount of matter. One direct consequence of this is the existence of atomic bombs.
 
  
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