• Einstein showed in his?theory of relativity?that matter can be considered a form of energy and hence, he proposed:
  • Mass can be converted into energy
  • Energy can be converted into mass
• This is known as?mass-energy equivalence, and can be summarised by the equation:

E?=?mc²

• Where:
  • E?= energy (J)
  • m?= mass (kg)
  • c?=?the speed of light?(m s^-1)

• Some examples of mass-energy equivalence are:
  • The?fusion?of hydrogen into helium in the centre of the sun
  • The?fission?of uranium in nuclear power plants
  • Nuclear?weapons
  • High-energy?particle collisions?in particle accelerators