If a 1-microgram antimatter meteor were to strike the Earth,the amount of energy of forms other than mass that would be produced would be
A)18 joules.
B)18 thousand joules.
C)18 million joules.
D)18 billion joules.
E)180 billion joules.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using Einstein's famous equation E=mc^2, where E is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light, we can calculate the amount of energy released if the 1-microgram antimatter meteor were to annihilate with an equal mass of matter on Earth. 
The total mass that would be annihilated is (1μg + 1μg) = 2μg. 
The energy released would be E = (2μg) x (3 x 10^8 m/s)^2 = 1.8 x 10^14 joules.
However, the question asks specifically for the amount of energy of forms other than mass that would be produced. Since all of the mass of the antimatter meteor would be converted into energy, the full 1.8 x 10^14 joules would be in the form of non-mass energy. 
Therefore, the answer is E) 180 billion joules.

If a 1-Microgram Antimatter Meteor Were to Strike the Earth,the