Warp wrote:
> Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
>> Warp wrote:
>>>   A theoretical question: Can mass be converted to other forms of energy?
> 
>> Mass *is* energy. That's where energy is stored. That's why things with 
>> lots of kinetic energy are heavier.  That's why a helium atom weighs 
>> less than four hydrogen atoms.   E=mc^2.
> 
>   That didn't really answer my question.

The answer is "mu". That is the answer that unasks the question.

There is no "other form" of energy. All energy and mass are the same 
thing. To ask whether mass can be converted to other forms of energy is 
meaningless. All forms of "energy" are sloppy ways of measuring the 
change of mass. Kinetic energy is an increase in measured mass. Energy 
of atomic fission comes from a decrease in rest mass of the atoms left 
behind.

It's like asking if heat can be converted to kinetic energy. Heat *is* 
kinetic energy, just going all different directions.

>>>   Assuming yes, how does this conversion affect angular momentum?
>> It doesn't. It doesn't go anywhere.  It's all the same stuff.

>   Since angular momentum is dependent on mass, that means that eg. heat
> has mass?

Yes. As the atoms move faster, they gain mass due to relativistic 
increases.  Yeah, really.

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     Remember the good old days, when we
     used to complain about cryptography
     being export-restricted?

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