Albert Einstein

• Einstein was an astrophysicist whomade several important contributions tothe scientific world. These include histheory of relativity, the equivalence ofmass and energy (E=mc^2), and the indepth examination of the brilliant, yetinexplicably destructive, powers of theatom.

Theory of Relativity• In 1905 Einstein wrote a paper proposing that the laws of

physics were sure to maintain the same formulas invarying dimensions, and that the speed of light is aconstant in all frames of reference. His work combined hisown theories and discoveries with the contributions andresearch of collaborating scientists (Ludwig Boltzmann,Josiah Gibbs, and Maxwell Planck) all of whom wereinnovators of the theories off of which Einstein built hisown.

• Einstein’s work on his theory of special relativity led him tomaking enormous contributions to quantum theory.Einstein looked at physics, and mathematics in an entirelyway. Allowing him to explore ideas, which then becametheories, that no one else has thought to examine.

Theory of Relativity• Einstein’s theory of relativity encompasses his theories of

special relativity and general relativity. Both theories arethoroughly complex and need to be examined from severaldifferent perspectives before they can be fully grasped.

• He theorized that the light of stars could be bent and deflectedby gravity, specifically that of the sun. A theory which wasconfirmed in 1919 by a solar eclipse, and the light acted just ashe predicted.

• His theory of special relativity explained that distance and timeare not absolute, that is to say time will “move slower”depending on the speed at which the clock and observer of theclock are moving.

• His theory of general relativity proposed that gravity and motioncan have a direct effect on intervals of time and space. Thistheory is based in a principal that explains gravity as having anequal and opposite reaction in acceleration.

• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/relativity/

E=mc^2• Einstein’s equation of E=mc^2 expresses that

energy (E) is equal to the mass of a body multipliedby the square of the speed of light. This equation isrevolutionary because it proves, mathematically, anequivalence of an energy to something as concreteas size. This equation helped in the monumentaldiscovery of being able to convert mass to pureenergy, creating the ability to break apart an atom.The way and capacity with which this could createenergy gave weigh to the creation of nuclearfission, which consequently led to the birth of theatomic bomb.

The Atom

• Einstein was an explorer. He loved examiningother people’s theories, then weaving theminto his own ideas to attempt to find andcreate new scientific discoveries. The atomhas been explored by many, but Einstein’sproclamation of E=mc^2 gave explanation tothe power of a split atom. With the mass splitin two, the energy of that mass is released.