Problem 43

Question

Solve each formula for the specified variable. Do you recognize the formula? If so, what does it describe? \(E=m c^{2}\) for \(m\)

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer
The mass of an object \(m\) is equal to its energy \(E\) divided by the square of the speed of light \(c\), \(m=\frac{E}{c^{2}}\)
1Step 1: Recognize and understand the formula
The given formula is \(E=mc^{2}\), which is Einstein's Mass-Energy equivalence principle. It states that the energy (E) of an object equals its mass (m) times the square of the speed of light (c). The task is to solve this equation for mass (m).
2Step 2: Rearrange the equation
To isolate \(m\), divide both sides of the equation by \(c^{2}\). This will cancel out \(c^{2}\) on the right-hand side, leaving \(m\) alone.
3Step 3: Final formula
After simplifying, the formula becomes \(m=\frac{E}{c^{2}}\). This equation tells us that the mass of an object is its energy divided by the square of the speed of light.