The diagram at the top of the page shows the universal confusion between matter and mass. (It's a pity both words begin with "m", say the electrical theorists; otherwise mathematicians might not have gotten away with this sleight of hand). Everyone recognizes the equation relating energy and mass (E = mc2), but no one knows what gives matter its apparent mass. One of the foundational principles of physics states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. Matter cannot be converted into energy or vice versa. In other words, energy and matter are not equivalent and cannot be lumped together as in the above diagram.
Some comments:
- "Everyone recognizes the equation relating energy and mass
(E = mc2), but no one knows what gives matter its apparent mass."Physicists have some ideas about where mass comes from (the Higgs field). They're working on trying to get some experimental verification. Here are a couple of links:
Gordon Kane's Scientific American article "The Mysteries of Mass""How Particles Acquire Mass" (older, but not useless)
- "One of the foundational principles of physics states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. Matter cannot be converted into energy or vice versa."
These claims are false. Each time an electron and a positron collide and annihilate each other, matter is destroyed, its energy being released in the form of photons.
- "In other words, energy and matter are not equivalent...."
But energy and mass are equivalent (up to a conversion factor). That's what the formula
E = mc2 means.
Having "some ideas" and "knowing" are two different things.