Albert Einstein
- Born:
- March 14, 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, German Empire
- Died:
- April 18, 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- German (1879–1896), Swiss (1901–1955), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist
Early Life and Education
- Born in Ulm, Germany, to Hermann Einstein and Pauline Koch.
- Relocated to Munich shortly after birth.
- Received early education at a Catholic elementary school.
- Attended Luitpold Gymnasium, but disliked the regimented teaching style.
- Failed an entrance exam to the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich, but later gained admission after attending a cantonal school in Aarau.
- Graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in 1900 with a degree in physics and mathematics.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern from 1902 to 1909.
- Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, known as the "Annus Mirabilis" papers, on 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 general theory of relativity, published in 1915.
- Received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Emigrated to the United States in 1933 to escape Nazi persecution and joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
- Wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, warning about the potential for Germany to develop atomic weapons.
Notable Works
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) - Introduced Special Relativity.
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905) - Introduced Mass-Energy Equivalence (E=mc²).
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916) - Introduced General Relativity.
- "Relativity: The Special and the General Theory" (1916) - A popular explanation of Relativity.
- Numerous other scientific papers and essays on physics, philosophy, and politics.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and one of the greatest physicists of all time. His theories of relativity revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. His work continues to inspire scientists and shape our modern world. Indeed, the importance of his work led to publications like sujatha rangarajan biography of albert by authors seeking to disseminate and explain his complex theories to a wider audience.