Attention Math Geeks!

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This one is for all of you "figure heads" out there. I know the struggle of living with math geeks... there are more than a few of these exceptional people in my family. This article, celebrating the anniversary of Einstein's famous equation, is for them (and, ostensibly, for the rest of us, too... although I'll leave that to your discretion).

[[ After E = mc∑, scientists realized that this reasoning, however sensible it once seemed, was deeply flawed. Mass and energy are not distinct. They are the same basic stuff packaged in forms that make them appear different. Just as solid ice can melt into liquid water, Einstein showed, mass is a frozen form of energy that can be converted into the more familiar energy of motion. The amount of energy (E) produced by the conversion is given by his formula: multiply the amount of mass converted (m) by the speed of light squared (c∑). Since the speed of light is a few hundred million meters per second (fast enough to travel around the earth seven times in a single second), c∑ , in these familiar units, is a huge number, about 100,000,000,000,000,000. ]]

So, you might think that it is all about esoteric knowledge that isn't remotely interesting to "normal" people. But then, the article goes into explaining how the mighty equation relates to all of us.

[[ The standard illustrations of Einstein's equation - bombs and power stations - have perpetuated a belief that E = mc∑ has a special association with nuclear reactions and is thus removed from ordinary activity.

This isn't true. When you drive your car, E = mc∑ is at work. As the engine burns gasoline to produce energy in the form of motion, it does so by converting some of the gasoline's mass into energy, in accord with Einstein's formula. When you use your MP3 player, E = mc∑ is at work. As the player drains the battery to produce energy in the form of sound waves, it does so by converting some of the battery's mass into energy, as dictated by Einstein's formula. As you read this text, E = mc∑ is at work. The processes in the eye and brain, underlying perception and thought, rely on chemical reactions that interchange mass and energy, once again in accord with Einstein's formula. ]]

That Famous Equation And You

See? Now you're a lot smarter! Aren't you glad you read this?

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