• Mass-energy

    Full definition of mass-energy

    Noun

    mass-energy

    (plural mass-energies)
    1. (physics) Mass and energy as a unified concept.
      • ''Whereas in classical physics mass and energy are distinct concepts, on relativistic scales, they become indistiguishable and are replaced by mass-energy.
      • In higher-energy physics, mass and energy eventually become meaningless as individual concepts; a particle's so-called "mass" is actually mass-energy and is often given equivalently in units of either mass (GeV/c2) or energy (GeV).
      • ''For equations normalized with Planck units, the quantities of mass and energy become numerically identical, revealing their true nature as mass-energy.
    2. (also spelled mass energy) The energy associated with any given mass according to special relativity, E = mc2.

    Adjective

    mass-energy

    1. mass-to-energyMass-energy conversion occurs during nuclear fusion and fission.
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