Remember the Genius - Albert Einstein
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Here we will be looking at the life of Albert Einstein. This world-famous theoretical physicist revolutionized the world of physics in the modern world. His contributions to quantum mechanics, like his thesis on the 'Theory of Relativity and The Photoelectric Effect,' have helped scientists find breakthrough discoveries throughout the field of science.
Another significant contribution from him was the mass-energy equivalence formula, E = mc². One of the most celebrated and influential physicists of all time. In 1921, he was given the Nobel Prize in Physics for contributing to the concept of 'The Photoelectric Effect.'
Childhood and Education
Einstein was born in Ulm, a city in the German Empire, on March 14th, 1879, to a family of Ashkenazi Jews.
Since childhood, he was always interested in the subject of science. He often recalls how certain events in his early childhood days were pretty significant in his interest in science. At age 5, he was introduced to a compass and mesmerized by its deflecting needle. At age 12, he was interested in Geometry. These were the stepping stones to his intrigue in the subject. He even named his favorite book the "sacred little geometry book."
As a child, his tutor, Max Talmey, was one of the most important influences. He introduced him to higher mathematics & philosophy.
He was great at Math and Physics from a very young age, which led him to believe that we can understand any concept in our nature as a "mathematical structure." He started to teach himself these concepts and, after a point, said, "I have learned all the maths they teach at school and a bit more."
For Einstein, understanding the concepts and reasoning behind the various phenomena was more critical than learning the dates of those said phenomena.
Inventions
Here is a list of some of his well-known inventions and discoveries:
General relativity
Special relativity
Photoelectric Effect
Theory of Brownian movement
Mass and energy equivalence, E = mc²
Planck-Einstein relation, E = hf
Bose-Einstein condensate
Bose-Einstein statistics
Gravitational-wave
Cosmological constant
EPR paradox
Unified field theory
Ensemble interpretation
Einstein-de Haas effect
Einstein-Rosen bridge
Stark-Einstein law
Achievements
Out of many, a few of his most notable achievements are:
He emphasized the concept of mass and energy being equivalent, which led to the famous formula of E = mc².
Einstein was one of the first few people who dismissed the ideologies of Older Physics. He talked about how the absolute of Time was now replaced by a greater absolute of light.
In 1910, he explained the phenomenon, 'Why the Sky is Blue, and his paper on this subject was considered to be a great contribution to the subject of the cumulative effect of the light scattering by individual molecules in the atmosphere.
He questioned 'The Wave Theory of Light' and debated how light could also be regarded as particulates. This ideology was one of the stepping stones for Quantum Physics. For these ideals, he won the Nobel Prize in 1921.
In 1924, Satyendra Nath Bose, an Indian Physicist, provided a paper on the subject of light as a gas of photons and asked Einstein for his assistance in the publication of this paper. Einstein studied his concepts to discover that the same theory could be applied for atoms, and these discoveries turned out to be the basis for the concept of Bosons.
In 1932, Einstein and de Sitter proposed the concepts that helped in the initial stages of the research of 'dark matter.'
FAQs on Albert Einstein Biography
1. Why did Albert Einstein win a Nobel Prize?
Albert Einstein has contributed a lot to the field of science. The numerous theories he gave provided revolutionary discoveries in the field of modern physics.
He was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the Photoelectric Effect in 1921. As declared by The Nobel Committee, he was awarded this prize "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect."
The Photoelectric Effect happens when electrons are emitted due to electromagnetic radiation, for example, light hitting a material. When the electrons are emitted in this way, they are known as photoelectrons.
Einstein presented his Nobel speech on 11th July 1923 in Gothenburg, as he was not able to attend the Award Ceremony a year before in Stockholm.
2. What is Albert Einstein famous for?
Albert Einstein is famous for his 'Theory of Relativity, ' which changed the understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe in the field of science. This theory tells us that the speed of light within a vacuum is the same no matter the speed at which an observer travels.
In today's time, we use this theory in different areas of science such as Satellite-Based Measurements, Global Positioning like GPS, and other high-precision measurements like the measurement of time and electron microscopes.
3. What are some other accomplishments Albert Einstein is known for?
Apart from his crucial contribution to The Photoelectric Effect and Theory of Relativity, Einstein is also known for providing landmark papers on Equivalence of Matter and Energy, Brownian Motion, Einstein-de Haas effect, Einstein-Rosen bridge, Stark-Einstein law, his contribution to Satyendra Nath Bose's paper on the subject of light as a gas of photons, which led to the discovery of Bosons.
Even today, his contributions have led to further discoveries and inventions that have helped us in our day-to-day lives. From Nuclear Energy to GPS Synchronizations, it all is based on the imprints of Einstein.
4. What are some life lessons we can learn from Albert Einstein?
Albert Einstein teaches us some very useful life lessons:
Learning from Mistakes: Einstein never did everything perfectly on the first try. To get a clear understanding of the concepts he studied, he made several attempts, several theories that probably were wrong. Taking those risks is always a good thing as it helps us move forward and achieve our goals.
Always be Curious: Albert Einstein always looked at different phenomena around him with a thought of curiosity, this childlike questioning is what helps us open the pathways for imagination, and that is what leads us to great discoveries.
Simplicity: Einstein teaches us that simplicity is the most important quality a person should have. His concepts were so complex and useful for indefinite research on various topics in the field of science, but at the same time also a concept you can make a 5-year old understand.
Unconventional Thinking: Whether it is Design, Science, Literature, or any other field, Rational Thinking is not always helpful. Sometimes we have to break the cliches and think differently. Being unconventional in your actions makes your creations different.
5. What are some other Biographies available at Vedantu?
Biographies are important to learn about and get inspired from a person's life. It is a real-life story that contains all the iconic moments of their lives that are considered important parts of history.
At Vedantu, we have biographies of various different personalities who have contributed to the different events in Science, Education, Literature, Indian Independence.
Some other important biographies available on our website and apps are also as highly detailed as this one, providing the best readable material on each and every personality.
6. What is the Theory of Relativity?
Theory of Relativity, published by Albert Einstein, incorporates two interconnected theories: special relativity and general relativity. Special relativity deals with all the physical phenomena that occur in the absence of gravity. On the other hand, General relativity deals with the gravitational laws and their relation to other natural forces. It is applied to the cosmological and astronomical fields.
7. For Which of Einstein's Works did he Receive the Nobel Prize for Physics?
Einstein received Nobel Prize for Physics for his work on The photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon where electrically charged particles are emitted when it is exposed to electromagnetic radiation. It can also be defined as the ejection or release of electrons from a metallic plate when light falls on it.
8. Was Einstein Part of the Manhattan Project?
Manhattan Project was the code-name for the American-led research that first led to nuclear weapons formation during World War II. It is often incorrectly rumored that Einstein's mass-energy played a crucial role in creating atom bombs. His thesis never explained how to create a nuclear weapon. Einstein was often interrogated regarding this issue. He always answered that he only wrote to President Roosevelt suggesting the United States research atomic weapons before the Germans took control of these deadly weapons.