Albert Einstein
- Born:
- March 14, 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany
- Died:
- April 18, 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (1879–1896), Swiss (1901–1955), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist, Mathematician
Early Life and Education
- Born in Ulm, Germany, to Hermann and Pauline Einstein.
- Showed an early aptitude for mathematics and physics.
- Attended the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich.
- Renounced German citizenship in 1896.
- Graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1900.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland (1902-1909).
- Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, known as the Annus Mirabilis papers.
- These papers covered Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, special relativity, and mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²).
- Became a professor at the University of Zurich in 1909.
- Developed the theory of general relativity (published 1915).
- Received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Emigrated to the United States in 1933, fleeing Nazi Germany.
- Joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
- Wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, warning of the potential for nuclear weapons.
Notable Works
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) - Special Relativity
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905) - Mass-Energy Equivalence
- "On the Motion of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid Required by the Molecular-Kinetic Theory of Heat" (1905) - Brownian Motion
- "On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" (1905) - Photoelectric Effect
- "Relativity: The Special and the General Theory" (1916) - An accessible explanation of relativity theories.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's theories revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and a symbol of intellectual brilliance. The impact of his work continues to be felt in numerous fields, including physics, cosmology, and technology.
Awards and Recognition
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physics | 1921 |
| Copley Medal | 1925 |
| Max Planck Medal | 1929 |
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