E=Mc2

E = mc2 is a German-born physicist Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity that

expresses the fact that mass and energy are the same physical entity and can be
changed into each other. In the equation, the increased relativistic mass (m) of a
body times the speed of light squared (c2) is equal to the kinetic energy (E) of that
body.
In physical theories prior to that of special relativity, mass and energy were viewed as distinct
entities. Furthermore, the energy of a body at rest could be assigned an arbitrary value. In special
relativity, however, the energy of a body at rest is determined to be mc2. Thus, each body of rest
mass m possesses mc2 of “rest energy / potential energy,” that could be converted into other forms
of energy.

This mass-energy relation, moreover, implies that, if energy is released from the body as a result of
such a conversion, then the rest mass of the body will decrease. Such a conversion of rest energy to
other forms of energy occurs in ordinary chemical reactions, but much larger conversions occur
in nuclear reactions. This is particularly true in the case of nuclear fusion reactions that
transform hydrogen to helium, in which 0.7 percent of the original rest energy of the hydrogen is
converted to other forms of energy. Stars like the Sun shine from the energy released from the rest
energy of hydrogen atoms that are fused to form helium.

This Einstein's equation opened the door for numerous technological advances, from nuclear
power and nuclear medicine to the inner workings of the sun. It shows us that matter and energy
are one.

What is “E” in E=mc2?

“E” is kinetic energy (energy of motion) – energy released when an object is moved /
accelerated.
Remember: Energy is neither created nor destroyed. Energy is not created because
it is all that is existing. Energy is not destroyed because it is only transformed from
one form to another and since it is all that is existing (The Universe), it cannot be
destroyed.
What is “M” in E=Mc2?
“M” is the relativistic mass (quantity of a matter / object) of the object
moved/accelerated.
What is “c” in E=mc2?
Anything massless would travel in vacuum at an invariant speed (299,800 kms/s
…OR…186,282 miles/s). This invariant speed is known as “vacuum speed of light” and
denoted as “c”. Because this speed is invariant it is called the universal constant.

Light is massless and therefore travels at this invariant speed. Gravitational field (and its
presumed quanta known as gravitons) is massless and stable when free. Therefore the
 gravitational radiation (propagating waves of gravitational field) also travels at this invariant
speed.

Neutrinos are NOT massless but their rest mass is unknown and therefore considered as the
tiniest. So, most neutrinos produced in nuclear reactions travel at a speed that is close to
this vacuum speed of light.

The speed of light squared is a colossal number, illustrating just how much energy there is in
even tiny amounts of matter. A common example of this is that 1 gram of water -- if its
whole mass were converted into pure energy via E=mc² -- contains as much energy as
20,000 tons (200 lakhs Kilogram) of TNT (Trinitrotoluene C6H2(NO2)3CH3 ) exploding. That's
why such a small amount of uranium or plutonium can produce such a massive atomic
explosion.

Why do we need to multiply matter by the speed of light to produce energy? The reason is
that energy, be it light waves or radiation, travels at the speed of light. That breaks down to
186,000 miles per second (300,000 kilometres per second). When we split an atom inside
a nuclear power plant or an atomic bomb, the resulting energy releases at the speed of light.

But why is the speed of light squared? The reason is that kinetic energy, or the energy of
motion, is proportional to mass. When you accelerate an object, the kinetic energy increases
to the tune of the speed squared. You'll find an excellent example of this in any driver's
education manual: If you double your speed, the braking distance is four times longer, so the
braking distance is equal to the speed squared [source: UNSW Physics: Einsteinlight].

What is light?

Light consists of massless photons – propagating waves of electro-magnetic field.

Does everything in the universe moving and therefore constantly producing energy?

Everything travels through space-time at the speed of light. Me, you, the cat (even
Schrödinger's cat), the Earth, the sun, bits and bytes, and any particles including photons
(light particles).

Note that I said space-time. Of course, we travel at different speeds through space. We might
even be standing still in our frame of reference. This frame of reference is moving relatively in
other frames of reference, for example you might be sitting still while reading this, but you
are on Earth (I’m guessing), which is spinning at 1,600 km/h at the equator, and Earth is also
moving around the Sun (107,000 km/h), and the Sun is moving around the center of the Milky
Way (828,000 km/h). Milky Way is also moving in relation to any other galaxy at 600 km/s or
2,160,000 km/h.