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| | ''See also [[E=mc²]]''. | | ''See also [[E=mc²]]''. |
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| − | '''Attempts to prove E=mc²''' are futile because there is no mass-energy equivalence. But that has not stopped people, sometimes [[liberals]] who avoid the [[Bible]], from insisting that have cleverly developed a "proof" of E=mc², and thereby established a mass-energy equivalence which, in fact, does not exist. | + | '''Attempts to prove E=mc²''' are futile because there is no mass-energy equivalence. But that has not stopped people, including [[liberals]] who avoid the [[Bible]], from insisting that they have cleverly developed a "proof" of E=mc², and thereby established a mass-energy equivalence which, in fact, does not exist. |
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| − | Many of these proofs are either circular in logic, or assume unproven (and often implausible) premises. A common defect to these "proofs" is an unjustified assumption that the energy and momentum of a physical system have a dependence on velocity akin to a moving participle. | + | Many of these "proofs" are either circular in logic, or assume unproven (and often implausible) premises. A common defect to these "proofs" is an unjustified assumption that the energy and momentum of a physical system have a dependence on velocity akin to a moving participle. |
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| | Many of these "proofs" use contrived thought experiments to try to bootstrap the kinetic energy of a moving particle into an assertion about the energy of a resting mass. Aside from changes in potential energy, there is no direct connection between the kinetic energy of a moving mass and its rest energy. | | Many of these "proofs" use contrived thought experiments to try to bootstrap the kinetic energy of a moving particle into an assertion about the energy of a resting mass. Aside from changes in potential energy, there is no direct connection between the kinetic energy of a moving mass and its rest energy. |
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| − | == Example of circularity == | + | == Example of circularity in "proofs" == |
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| − | The argument in some "proofs" is that while overall energy, kinetic plus potential, is conserved, the potential energy can manifest itself as an increase in the resting mass -- an assumption that implicitly redefines mass to comport with the conclusion sought. | + | The argument in some "proofs" is that although overall energy, kinetic plus potential, is conserved, the potential energy can manifest itself as an increase in the resting mass -- an assumption that implicitly redefines mass to comport with the conclusion sought. |
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| | [[category:Relativity]] | | [[category:Relativity]] |