Albert Einstein

Birthday: March 14, 1879
Biography: A theoretical physicist renowned for developing the theory of relativity, which revolutionized the understanding of space, time, and gravity.

Accomplishments:
Theory of Relativity (1905, 1915): Introduced Special Relativity (1905) and General Relativity (1915), transforming physics.
E=mc² (1905): Proposed the mass-energy equivalence formula, fundamental in physics.
Photoelectric Effect (1905): Explained the photoelectric effect, leading to the development of quantum theory.
Nobel Prize in Physics (1921): Awarded for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
Cosmological Constant (1917): Introduced to explain a static universe, later revisited in the context of dark energy.

Theory of Relativity

  • Special Relativity (1905): This theory revolutionized the concept of space and time by introducing the idea that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and that the speed of light is constant regardless of the motion of the light source. It led to the famous equation E=mc2E = mc^2E=mc2, indicating that mass and energy are interchangeable.
  • General Relativity (1915): This theory extended Special Relativity to include gravity, describing it as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. It replaced Newton’s law of universal gravitation and has been confirmed by numerous experiments and observations.
  • E=mc²

    This equation, derived from Special Relativity, implies that energy (E) and mass (m) are interchangeable; they are different forms of the same thing. This principle underlies nuclear energy and has profound implications for our understanding of the universe.

    Photoelectric Effect

    Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect showed that light can be thought of as quanta of energy (photons). This work provided crucial support for the quantum theory of light and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.

    Nobel Prize in Physics

    Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect, which was pivotal in establishing quantum theory.

    Cosmological Constant

    Einstein introduced the cosmological constant, Λ, in his equations of General Relativity to allow for a static universe. Although he later called it his "biggest blunder" after the discovery of the expanding universe, the concept has found new relevance in explaining the accelerated expansion of the universe due to dark energy.

    EXPLORE CATEGORIES

    CLOSE CATEGORIES