QUESTION #362

Can energy be converted back into mass?

Asked by: Josh Renfro

Answer

By the equation E = mc², it is stated that energy and mass are related . We have seen the conversion of mass to energy in an atomic bomb and yes, energy can be converted back to mass. Such a process was first observed by C.D Anderson in 1932 where he discovered the creation of an electron-positron pair from the energy of a gamma ray photon.

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Answered by: Choon Hoong Teo, Physics 'A' Level Student, J.B , Malaysia

'The mathematician's patterns, like the painter's or the poets, must be beautiful; the ideas, like the colours or the words, must fit together in a harmonious way. Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics.'

Godfrey Hardy
(1877-1947)