Paper 2 · November 2016 · Work, Energy and Power
In Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula, E = mc², what physical quantity does the symbol c represent?
Model answer
speed of light
Also accepted: speed of light in a vacuum, speed of light in vacuum
Explanation
c is the speed of light in a vacuum (E is the energy released, m is the mass converted).
Derived from ZIMSEC Physics 5055/2 Paper 2 Theory, November 2016, Q2