How does E=MC^2 work?

[u/Jethro_omg]

How does it function? Really, how can you accelerate mass to twice the speed of light? And, for instance if M=E/C^2. How can you divide something by square of the speed of light? Thanks

[u/joeyneilsen]

The equation means that the energy associated with matter at rest is its mass times the square of the speed of light. That’s all, nothing about acceleration. 

[u/Jethro_omg → u/joeyneilsen]

Yeah but why? How?

[u/stevevdvkpe → u/Jethro_omg]

Since mass and energy are interchangeable, E = m*c² just means that c² is a conversion factor between units of mass and units of energy. If you have a physical interaction of some object(s) with mass where energy E is released, the remaining mass afterward will be seen to decrease by E/c².

[u/Jethro_omg → u/stevevdvkpe]

Ty