c^2

[Quartile]

Can anyone explain why c is squared in energy mass equivalence?

 

Other than "it works"?

 

edit: In other terms maybe, why is energy in units of m^2/s^2

Edited October 10, 2008 by Quartile
editing

[timo]

edit: In other terms maybe, why is energy in units of m^2/s^2

Did you mean kg m²/s² or does it already answer your question to tell you that there's a factor m (for mass), too? The units of relativistic energies are just the same as for non-relativisitc ones.

[Quartile]

Right sorry I neglected to put the kg in there.

 

I'm uncertain why the mathematical definition of energy involves these units and their corresponding physical meaning, especially with relationship to special relativity.