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), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist, Mathematician
Early Life and Education
- Early childhood in Munich, Germany.
- Attended Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich.
- Renounced German citizenship in 1896.
- Graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich in 1900.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern (1902-1909).
- Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905 (the "Annus Mirabilis" papers).
- Developed the theory of special relativity.
- Proposed the mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc2.
- Developed the theory of general relativity.
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Emigrated to the United States in 1933, fleeing Nazi Germany.
- Joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
- Wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, warning of the potential for Nazi Germany to develop atomic weapons.
Notable Works
| Title | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" | 1905 | Explained the photoelectric effect and introduced the concept of photons. |
| "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" | 1905 | Introduced the theory of special relativity. |
| "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" | 1905 | Proposed the mass-energy equivalence E=mc2. |
| "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" | 1916 | Introduced the theory of general relativity. |
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. Many books, including rolf kipp biography of albert, delve deeper into his life and scientific achievements.