Albert Einstein
- Born:
- March 14, 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany
- Died:
- April 18, 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (1879-1896), Stateless (1896-1901), Swiss (1901-1955), German (1914-1933), American (1940-1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist
Early Life and Education
- Einstein showed early mathematical ability but struggled with formal education.
- Attended the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich, Switzerland, graduating in 1900.
- Initially worked as a patent clerk in Bern while pursuing physics research independently.
Career and Major Achievements
- Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, known as the "Annus Mirabilis" papers.
- Developed the theory of special relativity (1905), revolutionizing our understanding of space, time, mass, and energy.
- Proposed the famous equation E=mc², demonstrating the equivalence of mass and energy.
- Developed the theory of general relativity (1915), providing a new theory of gravity as the curvature of spacetime.
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Served as Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics and Professor at the University of Berlin.
- Immigrated to the United States in 1933 and joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
- Wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, urging research into atomic weapons due to the threat from Nazi Germany.
Notable Works
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) - Introducing Special Relativity
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905) - Introducing E=mc²
- "Investigations on the Theory of the Brownian Movement" (1905)
- "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" (1905) - Explanation of the Photoelectric Effect
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916)
- "Relativity: The Special and the General Theory" (1916) - Popular Science Book
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's theories revolutionized modern physics and profoundly impacted our understanding of the universe. He is considered one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and his work continues to shape scientific research today. The extensive literature on Einstein's life and work includes analyses like Robert K Tanenbaum biography of Albert Einstein, which delves into the complexities of his personal life and intellectual development alongside his scientific achievements.