Ontopic Mission to Uranus

and if you could measure how much energy you have within an item wouldn't you be able to calculate its mass? or am I missing something

but I mean in theory in the sense that you can't just point a tricorder at an engine block and spout out how much energy is in the metal
 
my little brony said:
and if you could measure how much energy you have within an item wouldn't you be able to calculate its mass? or am I missing something

but I mean in theory in the sense that you can't just point a tricorder at an engine block and spout out how much energy is in the metal
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The problem is that objects in motion, even internal motion, have additional energy. Everyone always forgets the momentum portion of E=mc^2, but even the motion of the earth whirling through space is going to impart a miniscule amount of momentum to your engine block.

It'll change the figure just a hair, but its still something you'd have to factor in if you wanted an exact count of the mass of an object from its energy.
 
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Mr. Asa said:
The problem is that objects in motion, even internal motion, have additional energy. Everyone always forgets the momentum portion of E=mc^2, but even the motion of the earth whirling through space is going to impart a miniscule amount of momentum to your engine block.

It'll change the figure just a hair, but its still something you'd have to factor in if you wanted an exact count of the mass of an object from its energy.
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The calculations can be done because they are the same.
 
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you know, giphy, I gave you everything you needed, and you give us Jessica Beal giving us the finger, and not Denise Richards and Neve Campbell giving us a boner.
We're done, giphy. I now know how to quit you.
 
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