Can matter be converted to energy?

Matter can be converted into energy by annihilation, fission, and fusion. Annihilation occurs when an electron and a positron meet. They annihilate each other and produce two γ ray photons, each with an energy of 511 keV.

What does it mean by energy can neither be created nor be destroyed?

The law of conservation of energy
The law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed – only converted from one form of energy to another. This means that a system always has the same amount of energy, unless it’s added from the outside.

Is energy converted into matter by the sun?

This conversion of energetic light into matter is a direct consequence of Einstein’s famous E=mc2 equation, which states that energy and matter (or mass) are interchangeable. Nuclear reactions in the sun and at nuclear power plants regularly convert matter into energy.

What type of energy doesn’t need to go through matter?

Electromagnetic waves differ from mechanical waves in that they do not require a medium to propagate. This means that electromagnetic waves can travel not only through air and solid materials, but also through the vacuum of space.

How is matter converted into light energy?

As Einstein’s famous equation E=mc2 proved, mass can get converted into energy and vice versa. For instance, when an electron meets its antimatter counterpart, a positron, they annihilate each other, releasing photons, the particles making up light.

Is matter destroyed when converted to energy?

By definition, mass is conserved during a chemical change – no matter is created or destroyed but the matter is rearranged into new structures with different properties. Energy is stored in the bonds between atoms, however, so energy can be released or converted during a chemical change.

How is matter destroyed?

Matter can neither be created nor destroyed. This is the law of conservation of matter (mass). The amount of water (matter) stayed the same, but the volume just changed a bit.