Jake Kazan

Mr. Yack

Honors Physics

May 1, 2018

Physics on the Edge

Einstein was a brilliant scientist and he could expand classical equations to have a bigger

meaning to it. He used the kinetic energy equation a lot in his modifications, the equation

KE=1/2mv2 was the center piece of modifying it for relativity. He then got the equation of kinetic

energy equaling mass times velocity of the object squared, divided by the square root of 1-

(v2/c2), then everything is subtracted by mc2. The meaning for the variable c is the speed of light

and Einstein came up with the conclusion that the velocity can never be above 1.0c in the special

relativity theory. This equation was not the first or the last time Einstein used the kinetic formula

and made it into a seemingly more complex equation.

Einstein’s uses of the kinetic energy formula is not very different from the classical formula

of KE = ½ mv2. The classic kinetic energy formula is mostly used in all scenarios to find the

kinetic energy. The times that you will use Einstein’s equation including the principles of special

relativity is when the speed of the object is close to the speed of light. If it is much less than the

speed of c than it is okay to use the classical kinetic energy equation. This differs from what we

talk about in class because we have not talked about calculating the speed of light and have had

no questions wanting to know about the speed of light. It is intriguing to see how the putting the

speed of light can give you more answers to different situations. Take Einstein’s famous E= mc2

equation for example. He can find the energy by multiplying the mass and speed of light, square
it and you have your answer. The most impressive thing is the way he took into consideration

that even if the object is at rest the object still has a certain number of energy.

Einstein’s famous equation that was the first to correctly tell the relationship between energy

and mass. The equation E=mc2 was ground breaking in many ways and the equation is the key

formula to some of the most dangerous technology we have today. This equation was the

stepping stone for other scientist to find out the key of nuclear reactors and atomic bombs. This

equation also makes more sense now to me than it did in the beginning of the year. I know now

that energy can not be created or destroyed from an object. The equation is also interesting to me

know that I know that variable c is the speed of light and if multiplying it to the mass, squaring

will give you the energy of the object. It is still impressive to see that Einstein’s legacy is still

living on with his work and the intelligence it took for people to use that equation to make the

most destructive thing on the earth today.

Serway, Raymond A., and Jerry S. Faughn. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company,

2017.

Tate, Karl. “How Einstein's E=Mc^2 Works.” Live Science, LiveScience Infographic Arts, 19

May 2014, www.livescience.com/45714-how-einstein-s-key-to-the-universe-the-mass-energy-

equivalence-formula-works-infographic.html.

“The Equivalence of Mass and Energy.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 21 Sept. 2001,

plato.stanford.edu/entries/equivME/.