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 (1914–1918), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist
Early Life and Education
- Born in Ulm, Germany, to Hermann Einstein and Pauline Koch.
- Family moved to Munich shortly after his birth.
- Initially struggled with speech development.
- Received early education at a Catholic elementary school.
- Later attended the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich.
- Renounced his German citizenship in 1896.
- Studied at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich, Switzerland, graduating in 1900.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland, from 1902 to 1909.
- Published his groundbreaking papers in 1905, often referred to as his "annus mirabilis" (miracle year).
- Professor of theoretical physics at the University of Zurich (1909-1911), Charles University in Prague (1911-1912), and ETH Zurich (1912-1914).
- Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin (1914-1933).
- Developed the general theory of relativity, published in 1915, revolutionizing our understanding of gravity.
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Emigrated to the United States in 1933 due to the rise of Nazism in Germany.
- Joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he remained until his death.
- Wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, warning about the potential for Germany to develop atomic weapons.
Notable Works
- "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" (1905) - Explained the photoelectric effect.
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) - Introduced the special theory of relativity.
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905) - Derived the mass-energy equivalence, E=mc².
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916) - Presented the general theory of relativity.
- Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (1916) - A popular exposition of his theories.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's theories revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity, light, and the universe. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and a symbol of intellectual brilliance. His work continues to inspire scientists and shape our world today. When exploring the history of physics, it's interesting to note how figures like Albert Einstein built upon previous work, and in some ways, a 'muhammad ibn musa al-khwarizmi biography of albert' would highlight the lineage of mathematical and scientific thought, even though their specific contributions were in different eras.