What's Wrong With E=MC^2?

Scientific Blogging ^ | August 15, 2009 | Johannes Koelman

[decimon]

Google “E=mc2 is wrong” and you get 1,060 hits. Google “E=mc2 is correct” and you get a mere 138 hits. There you have it. It took us a more than a century, but finally this crazy inconsistent theory of relativity got outvoted. Common sense cries victory!

Fortunately, science does not work that way. Science is no democracy, and we do not render a theory invalid by popular vote. Einstein's theory of relativity has stood the test of time and its correctness is beyond any doubt. But... there is an issue with what is arguably the most famous equation in the history of natural sciences.

So what is the problem with Einstein's mass-energy relation?

[decimon]

Now..., does that mean you’re at a higher altitude, or a lower altitude? :-)

A higher age.

[SunkenCiv]

Einstein's theory of relativity has stood the test of time and its correctness is beyond any doubt.

I love that. :') Thanks KevinDavis.

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[mad_as_he$$]

“In our time we have discovered that energy and matter are interchangeable.”
Picard.

[Star Traveler]

I can relate... :-)

[sig226]

I thought we were doing consensus science. That's what Al Gore said. Wrong gets 1,060 hits and right gets 138, therefore E=MC² is wrong. Or something.

[Tanniker Smith]

E=mc2 is rest mass. E=Mc2 is relativistic mass. Seems catholic.

Indeed. I was resting at Mass this morning.
During the sermon, I think.

[2ndClassCitizen]

To unify two fields, knock down the fence between them.

That sounds like bull. :-)

Only if you are in the field that contains the bull.

[BigEdLB]

What's wrong with E=mc^2?
What happened between my generation and the `Next Generation` that made them all a bunch of Athiestic Communists?

[grey_whiskers]

Lene Vestergaard Hau.

She's no Lisa Randall, but for a physicist -- not guilty.

[dangus]

N=nvⁱⁱ is Latin mass

[Tanniker Smith]

All in the Family, and everything else that guy produced.

[onedoug]

“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”

[cruise_missile]

186,000 miles per second it’s a law we can live with.

[GOPJ]

Science is no democracy, and we do not render a theory invalid by popular vote.

Ummm, Al Gore and all the rest of the liberals would disagree. And since they outnumber the people who believe the above...

[wastedyears]

I think the theory that the faster an object goes, the more mass it has is due to drag inside our own atmosphere. Drag in space is inconsequential to velocity, as it’s a vacuum, and therefore drag is at an absolute minimum. Add to that the lack of gravity, and the possibilities for speed are quite good. Even using the gravity of planets or moons to slingshot around increases velocity.

Who came up with that concept?

[colorado tanker]

Relativity - it’s the Law.