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 (1914–1933), American (1940–1955)
- Profession(s):
- Theoretical Physicist, Mathematician, Philosopher
Early Life and Education
- Early education in Munich, Germany.
- Moved to Switzerland and completed secondary education in Aarau.
- Graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic (ETH) in Zurich in 1900.
- Worked as a patent clerk in Bern while developing his groundbreaking theories.
Career and Major Achievements
- Published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, known as the "Annus Mirabilis" papers.
- Developed the theory of special relativity, introducing the concept of spacetime and the famous equation E=mc².
- Developed the theory of general relativity, a geometric theory of gravitation.
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
- Made significant contributions to the development of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics.
- Joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton in 1933.
Notable Works
- "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (1905) – introduced special relativity.
- "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" (1905) – introduced mass-energy equivalence.
- "Investigations on the Theory of the Brownian Movement" (1905) - explained Brownian Motion.
- "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity" (1916) – introduced general relativity.
- "Relativity: The Special and the General Theory" (1916) – a popular explanation of relativity.
Legacy and Impact
Albert Einstein's theories revolutionized physics and significantly impacted our understanding of the universe. His work laid the foundation for many modern technologies, including nuclear energy and GPS. The enduring interest in his life and work is evident in publications such as the lonnie shields biography of albert einstein, and countless other books and articles.