Can Matter be converted into Energy?

            In 1995 Albert Einstein established a relationship between mass and energy which is known as the mass-energy relation formula. According to this formula if a mass m is converted into energy, then e=mc2 where E is the energy released and C is the velocity of light. According to this formula the energy available by the conversion of half a pound of matter will be equal to that produced by exploding 7 million tones of dynamite.

Atom Bomb converts Matter into Energy

            Scientists realized the real importance of the mass energy relationship in 1945, when the first atom bomb converting uranium into energy was exploded by U.S.A. on 6 august 1945, the uranium atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in Japanese. There days later a plutonium atom bomb killed millions of Nagasaki. These bombs killed millions of people. Scientists realized the true potential of unclear energy. Subsequently on the basis of this formula, more powerful hydrogen bombs were developed.

             After seeing the great destruction in Hiroshima and Nagasaki scientists thought of tapping this energy for peaceful purposes. Nuclear power plants have been developed to generate electricity on the basis of this formula. Heat energy produced in reactors by the fission of uranium is used for converting water into steam to run turbines which in turn run generators. These generators produce millions of megawatts of electric power. Einstein mass energy relationship and its subsequent practical applications have proved to be a great boon to mankind. About 1% energy needs of the world are now met by nuclear energy.