Einstein Essay, Research Paper

Of all the scientists that have emerge in nineteenth and twentieth centuries there is one who is known by everyone. While most people know only little about this man’s work, everyone knows that its impact on the world of science is overwhelming. It is true many of us have heard of Albert Einstein and his General Theory of relativity, but few know about the interesting life that led this scientist to discover what some have called, “The highest quality of human thought.? Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany on March 14, 1874. He was lucky to have an excellent family with which he held strong bonds. Albert’s mother, Pauline Einstein, had a passion for music and literature, and it was she that introduced Albert to the violin in which he found much joy and relaxation for many years in his life.

As a child, Einstein’s sense of curiosity had already begun to arouse. His favorite toy when he was young was his father’s compass, and he often marveled at his uncle’s explanations of algebra. Although at a young age Albert was captivated by certain mysteries of science, but he was considered a slow learner by many of his teachers. His inability to become fluent in German until about the age of nine even led some teachers to believe he was disabled. Einstein’s education began at the Luitpold Gymnasium when he was ten and here was where he the school’s strict rules and policies always seeming to argue with the teaching method of this school caused him to have a reputation as a rebel. These differences caused Einstein to search for wisdom at home.

He did not begin with science and math, but with religion. He fervently studied the Bible seeking truth, but this religious intrigue soon cooled down when he discovered science and math. With this new knowledge he disliked class even more, and was eventually expelled from Luitpold Gymnasium being considered a disruptive influence. Deciding he could no longer deal with the German teaching mentality, Einstein moved to Switzerland. At sixteen he attempted to enroll at the Federal Institute of Technology but failed the entrance exam. This forced him to study at a local university for one year until he finally passed the entrance exam of the school. The Institute allowed Einstein to meet many other students that shared his interest; here was where his studies turned mainly to Physics. He quickly learned that physicists generally agreed on past principles but he was interested in modern scientists who were trying to refute old theories. Because most of Einstein’s teachers ignored these new ideas, he was again had to explore on his own. In 1900 he graduated from the Institute and then became a citizen in Switzerland. Einstein got a job as a clerk at the Swiss Patent Office in 1902. This job had little to do with physics, but he was able to satisfy his curiosity by figuring out how these new inventions worked. The essential part of Einstein?s new job was that it allowed him enough time to engage in his own research.

In 1903 he married Mileva Meric, a mathematician friend. In 1905, Einstein published five separate papers in a journal, the Annals of Physics. The first paper was immediately recognized, and the University of Zurich awarded Einstein an additional degree. The other papers helped to develop modern physics and earned him the reputation in the world of science. His work at this time dealt with molecules, but he is most well known for his Special Theory of Relativity, which deal with motion and the speed of light. The most important part and most well known of his discoveries was the equation: E= mc2. In 1908, Einstein began teaching part time at the University of Bern, and then following year, he became a full time teacher at Zurich University. Einstein now was able to move to Prague with his wife and two sons, Hans and Eduard. Finally, being promoted to a professor, Einstein and his family were able to enjoy a good life.

In 1912, Albert chose to accept a job giving him high authority at the Federal Institute of Technology, where he had originally studied. It was not until 1914 that Einstein was tempted to return to Germany to become research director Prussian Academy of Science and a chair at the University of Berlin. In 1915, Einstein published his General Theory of relativity, a result of ten years work, which revolutionized physics. It stated that the universe had to be thought of as curved, and told how light was affected by this. A year later, Einstein published another paper that added that the universe had no boundary, but actually twisted back on its self. As anti-Semitism began to grow in Germany many rumors about groups who were trying to kill Einstein, so he began to travel extensively. The biggest change, though, was in 1919 when a scientist who studied an eclipse confirmed that his theories were correct. In 1921, he traveled through Britain and the United States lecturing about his theories. Einstein received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922. After another lecture tour, he visited Palestine for the opening the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Upon his return he began to enjoy a calmer life in which he returned to his original curiosity, religion.

While Einstein was visiting America in 1933, the Nazi party came to power in Germany. Again he was subject to anti-Semitic attacks, but this time he was publicly considered an enemy of the nation. It was obvious that he could not return to Germany safely, and for the second time he disowned his German citizenship. During these early years in America he did some research at Princeton, but did not accomplish much of significance. In 1939, the Second World War began to take form. There were arguments during this time over whether the United States should explore the idea of an atomic bomb. Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt warning him that a disaster would occur if the Nazi’s developed it first. Einstein did not participate in the development of the bomb, but the idea did stem from his equation E=mc2. Just as he knew that the bomb was under development, he also knew when it was going to be used. Just before the bomb was dropped on Japan Einstein wrote a letter to the President begging him not to use this terrible weapon. The rest of Einstein’s life was dedicated to promoting peace. After the war ended, he declared, “The war is won, but the peace is not.” He also continued his scientific research until the day he died on April 18, 1955.

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