There is more than one brain behind the formula E = mc2

(scienceinfo.net) - The famous formula E = mc ² is associated with the name of the great scientist Einstein. However, a new study shows that there is not only one brain behind this famous equation.

A new study shows the contribution of a little-known Austrian physicist, Friedrich Hasenöhrl, to discover a precursor to Einstein's famous equation.

Two American physicists sketched out the role of Austrian physicist Friedrich Hasenöhrl, in establishing proportional proportions of energy (E) of a mass of matter with mass (m) in a cavity filled with radiation. In an article to be published in European physics journal H, Stephen Boughn from Haverford College at Pensylvannia and Tony Rothman from Princeton University in New Jersey found the argument to prove the study of Hasenöhrl, which now he is a little recognized, may have contributed and the famous formula E = mc ² .

Albert Einstein

According to scientist philosopher Thomas Kuhn, the nature of scientific progress occurs through model changes, which depend on the cultural and historical circumstances of the group of scientists. Agreeing with this idea, the authors believe that the view that the volume and energy involved are not unique to Hasenöhrl. Nor did it suddenly appear in 1905, when Einstein published his article.

Due to the lack of recognition for Hasenöhrl's contributions, the authors examined the initial study of the black body radiation of the Austrian physicist in a cavity surrounded by completely reflective walls. This study aims to determine changes in the mass of the black object, when the chamber is moving relative to the observer.

They then discovered why the Austrian physicist reached an energy / mass correlation that did not match the factors, namely in equation: E = (3/8) mc ² . They believe that Hasenöhrl's error stems from not taking into account the loss of mass by black objects during radiation.

Before Hasenöhrl focused on cavity radiation, other physicists, including French mathematician Henri Poincaré and German physicist Max Abraham, showed the existence of a mass of inertia combined with energy. electricity. In 1905, Einstein gave the correct relationship between inertial mass and electric energy, E = mc ² . However, it was not until 1911 that German physicist Max von Laue generalized it to include all forms of energy.