Albert Einstein Biography: Albert Einstein developed some of the century’s most revolutionary theories and discoveries. Even today, scientists and physicists around the world adhere to his hypotheses. Einstein was and will always be regarded by many as one of the world’s most knowledgeable scientists. Here is a brief overview of his background and the contributions he made to advance science and technology.
Einstein, who was born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879, spent a significant component of his childhood in Munich. Since his father owned an electronics company, he developed an early interest in the field.
Albert Einstein Biography
Early Life
Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, a city in the German Empire’s Kingdom of Württemberg. Hermann Einstein was a merchant and engineer, and Pauline Einstein was a housewife. Albert had a younger sibling named Maja.
Albert demonstrated an early enthusiasm in mathematics and science as a child. He was an inquisitive and independent thinker who frequently questioned school-taught concepts. When he was six years old, his family moved to Munich, and he began attending a Catholic elementary school. However, he was dissatisfied with the school’s strict teaching methods and ultimately persuaded his parents to allow him to transfer to a school with more freedom of thought.
Albert applied to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich at age 15, but failed the entrance examination. After completing secondary school in Aarau, Switzerland, he was admitted to the Zurich Polytechnic to study physics and mathematics. After receiving his degree in 1900, he worked as a patent secretary in Bern, Switzerland, and began developing his ground-breaking physics theories.
Education
Einstein could apply directly to an institute in Zürich, which was renamed the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 1911, without the equivalent of a high school diploma if he passed its entrance examinations, despite the fact that his prospects were bleak. Einstein excelled in mathematics and physics, but he performed poorly in French, chemistry, and biology.
On the condition that he first conclude his formal education, he was admitted to the polytechnic based on his outstanding mathematics scores.
Einstein attended a specialised Swiss secondary school and graduated in 1896.
Einstein regarded his time spent in Zürich as some of the fondest of his life. He met the mathematician Marcel Grossmann and Besso, with whom he discussed space and time.
Albert Einstein Career
The primary concentration of Albert Einstein’s career was theoretical physics. In 1905, he published four papers that revolutionised the discipline of physics. These papers contained Einstein’s theory of special relativity, which demonstrated that space and time are relative to the observer and the speed of light is constant. He also introduced the equation E=mc2, which demonstrated the interchangeability of energy and mass.
Einstein published his general relativity theory in 1915, which demonstrated that gravity is not a force between masses, as previously thought, but rather the result of the curvature of space and time by enormous objects. Numerous experiments support this theory, regarded as a cornerstone of modern physics.
Einstein also made significant contributions to the development of quantum mechanics, which examines the behaviour of matter and energy at the subatomic level. However, Einstein was sceptical of certain foundational aspects of quantum mechanics, and he famously stated, “God does not play dice with the universe.”
Einstein was an outspoken supporter of peace and civil rights in addition to his contributions to physics. He was a pacifist who opposed both the First and Second World Wars. In order to combat segregation in the United States, he also spoke out against prejudice and collaborated with civil rights leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois.
Throughout his tenure, Einstein received numerous awards and honours, including the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics. On April 18, 1955, at the age of 76, he passed away.
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Albert Einstein Awards
Additionally, there several Albert Einstein Awards given to numerous organisations and institutions, each with its own criteria and selection procedure. Here are some instances:
- The Albert Einstein Medal is one of the oldest and most prestigious physics honours, awarded by the Albert Einstein Society of Bern, Switzerland. Presented every two years to a physicist, exceptional contributions to fundamental physics.
- The World Cultural Council annually presents the Albert Einstein World Award of Science to recognise scientific and technological research that has had a significant impact on human progress.
- The Lewis and Rosa Strauss Memorial Fund established the Albert Einstein Award in 1951, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, presents it annually. This prize goes to individuals who contributed significant contributions to theoretical physics, mathematics, or astronomy.
- The National Academy of Sciences in the United States presents the Albert Einstein Memorial Award to individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to science, engineering, or science education.
Albert Einstein Personal life
Einstein married twice throughout his personal existence. His first wife was fellow student Mileva Mari, whom he encountered while attending the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich. They wed in 1903 and had two children: Hans Albert and Eduard. The couple divorced in 1919 after separating in 1914.
Einstein married his cousin Elsa Einstein in 1919 for his second marriage. Einstein assisted in the upbringing of Elsa’s two daughters from a previous union. The couple stayed together until Elsa’s passing in 1936.
Throughout his life, Einstein had a number of romantic relationships in addition to his marriages. He also had a son, Eduard, institutionalised for the majority of his life due to mental illness.
Famous Quotes of Albert Einstein:
- Knowledge is less essential than imagination.
- If you cannot express it simply, you do not comprehend it sufficiently.
- Life is comparable to pedalling a bicycle. To maintain your balance you must keep moving.
- Imagination is paramount. It is a preview of the upcoming attractions of life.
- No problem can be resolved at the same level of consciousness that produced it.
