Mass-energy Equivalence

Assuming that e=mc², does this mean ultimately that all matter is made out of energy?

Thanks!
- john (age 39)
ireland

You can consider energy as a Universal Currency, i.e. it can be traded among its various forms such as potential energy, kinetic energy, as well as matter.  So in that sense all matter is a form of energy; its trade-in value is mc².   There are trade restrictions however.  Most matter, such as a proton, does not spontaneously turn into energy.  A proton can annihilate, releasing energy, if it meets up with an anti-proton, but there are not many of those around. 

LeeH

(published on 10/28/2007)