Scientist Paper
The Ever Curious Life of Albert Einstein
“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” – Albert Einstein (Brainyquote, 2016)
With an IQ of 160-190 (Basu, 2014), and a list of scientific contributions such as the theory of relativity, aiding in the development of quantum theory of light, special relativity, the photoelectric effect, and the Brownian motion. Time magazine even named him in 1999 the “Person of The Century” going on to say that “he was the embodiment of pure intellect” (Time, 1999). The words Einstein and genius are now ambiguous to each other.
Albert Einstein was born March 14, 1879 in the town of Ulm, Germany. He did not spend much time there however, after six weeks Einstein and his family moved to Munich, Germany. Albert would begin his schooling in Munich at the Luitpold Gymnasium. School wasn’t such an easy thing for Einstein however, he had an incredibly slow time learning how to talk which led many of his teachers to believe that he was mentally handicapped. Einstein’s own parents even believed their son to have a learning disability because he often avoided other children along with having unusual temper tantrums. He wouldn’t go on to speak fluently until the age of nine.
Through it all Einstein still had a deep yearning to understand the invisible laws of nature and the puzzles that came from them. His father once gave him a compass and every night Einstein would stare at the compass with its invisible force pointing the needle north. Mathematics was a strength of Einstein’s at the age of twelve he found interest in geometry and “was taken by its clear and certain proofs” (notablebiographies, 2016). A few years later at the age of sixteen he went on to master calculus. Unfortunately Albert was in his own words “bored” with school. “The teachers behaved like Feldwebel (sergeants). I wanted to learn what I wanted to know, but they wanted me to learn for the exam” (biographyonline, 2016). At age sixteen he dropped out of Luitpold Gymnasium.
At that same age Einstein proceeded to take the entrance examination into the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. While he excelled in math and science, the other subjects weren’t up to par. Einstein ended up failing the entrance exam. The principle of the school recommended to Einstein that he attend the Cantonal School in Aarau, Switzerland. Einstein took the advice of the principle and earned his diploma there. He then went on to be admitted to the Federal Institute of Technology. There Einstein realized his passion lay with physics and not mathematics. Einstein passed his examination in 1900 but was unable to obtain the regular assistantship because of one professor’s objection.
Einstein spent nearly two years looking for a teaching position until finally in 1902 took a job at the Federal Office for Intellectual Property, a patent office. At the age of twenty six in 1905, Einstein obtained his doctoral degree and started to work on numerous revolutionary scientific papers. 1905 is stilled considered the annus mirabilis or miracle year by historians because Einstein was able to write and publish four groundbreaking papers in that year. In March of 1905 he wrote his first paper about his creation of the quantum theory of light. Using Maxwell’s theory of light which showed that the more intense incident light shown on a metal the more electrons would be emitted from a piece of metal. Einstein added on to this saying that the light had quanta (photons) that would interact with the electrons like a particle instead of a wave. Through this discovery Einstein proposed that we live in a quantum universe made out of tiny blocks of energy and matter.
In May Einstein again added on to a theory, this time he did it with the Brownian motion. The Brownian motion observed a pollen grain in water in a constant state of agitation. Einstein’s explanation for this was that the grain of pollen was in constant collision from randomly moving water particles. Einstein’s theory showed that the mean distance traveled by a microscopic object increased its odds to collide with molecules overtime. Through Einstein’s theory molecules and atoms became universally accepted and ended “a millennia-old debate on the fundamental nature of the chemical elements.”
His fourth and final paper of 1905 added a twist to his first paper in March. In Einstein’s first paper he treated light as a particle. However when Einstein finished special relativity light was seen as “a continuous field of waves.” Einstein ended up seeing light as both a particle and a wavelength, and with each problem that arose he would confront and solve it. Later in the same year Einstein extended on to his special relativity. This time Einstein was able to prove energy and matter are linked through the equation E=mc^2. This is equation shows much potential energy is stored in the molecular level when times by the speed of light by an objects mass. Through this equation we were able to find longer lasting sources of energy such as nuclear power.
After the miracles year of 1905 Einstein went on a twenty year run of making significant contributions to physics. He would create the theory of general relativity in 1915 which states that gravity and acceleration are equivalent. He went on to say that “matter and energy actually mold the shape of space and the flow of time.” In 1917 he made a model of our universe using general relativity. Many people believe that general relativity was his best work, and the highlight of his career. Finally in 1924 Einstein revisited his quantum theory and made one last contribution. He predicted a matter Bose-Einstein condensate.
Einstein spent his life dedicated to the unknown, he was always curious about things. Whether they be small or big scale he didn’t matter. He was always curious about how things worked, and that’s how he spent his life. Einstein was one of the greatest minds of this century, and while we may never see another Einstein. His work and impact on physics will live on forever.
BibliographyBasu, T. (2014). Top 12 People with Highest IQ in the World. Retrieved from http://listovative.com/: http://listovative.com/top-12-people-highest-iq-world/
Carroll, J. (2014, September 24). A FUN WAY OF UNDERSTANDING E=MC2. Retrieved from universetoday.com: http://www.universetoday.com/114617/a-fun-way-of-understanding-emc2/
Collins, G. (2005). Einstein’s Theory of Brownian Motion and Diffusion. Retrieved from http://public.wsu.edu/: http://public.wsu.edu/~collins/Brownian-poster-final.pdf
Einstein, A. (2016). Albert Einstein Quotes. Retrieved from http://www.biographyonline.net/scientists/albert-einstein-quotes.html: http://www.biographyonline.net/scientists/albert-einstein-quotes.html
Einstein, A. (n.d.). Albert Einstein Quotes. Retrieved from brainyquotes.com: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins118979.html
Golden, F. (1999). Albert Einstein. Retrieved from Time.com: http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,993017,00.html
Hyperhistory. (2016). Albert Einstein. Retrieved from www.hyperhistory.com: http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/index_n2/einstein_theory.html
NASA. (2005). Picking on Einstein. Retrieved from http://science.nasa.gov/: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/28mar_gamma/
nobelprize. (2016). Albert Einstein-Biographical. Retrieved from nobelprize.org: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/einstein-bio.html
notablebiographies. (2016). Albert Einstein Biography. Retrieved from notablebiographies.com: http://www.notablebiographies.com/Du-Fi/Einstein-Albert.html
Panganiban, R. (2016). 11 Unserious Photos of Albert Einstein. Retrieved from mentalfloss.com: http://mentalfloss.com/article/49222/11-unserious-photos-albert-einstein
“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” – Albert Einstein (Brainyquote, 2016)
With an IQ of 160-190 (Basu, 2014), and a list of scientific contributions such as the theory of relativity, aiding in the development of quantum theory of light, special relativity, the photoelectric effect, and the Brownian motion. Time magazine even named him in 1999 the “Person of The Century” going on to say that “he was the embodiment of pure intellect” (Time, 1999). The words Einstein and genius are now ambiguous to each other.
Albert Einstein was born March 14, 1879 in the town of Ulm, Germany. He did not spend much time there however, after six weeks Einstein and his family moved to Munich, Germany. Albert would begin his schooling in Munich at the Luitpold Gymnasium. School wasn’t such an easy thing for Einstein however, he had an incredibly slow time learning how to talk which led many of his teachers to believe that he was mentally handicapped. Einstein’s own parents even believed their son to have a learning disability because he often avoided other children along with having unusual temper tantrums. He wouldn’t go on to speak fluently until the age of nine.
Through it all Einstein still had a deep yearning to understand the invisible laws of nature and the puzzles that came from them. His father once gave him a compass and every night Einstein would stare at the compass with its invisible force pointing the needle north. Mathematics was a strength of Einstein’s at the age of twelve he found interest in geometry and “was taken by its clear and certain proofs” (notablebiographies, 2016). A few years later at the age of sixteen he went on to master calculus. Unfortunately Albert was in his own words “bored” with school. “The teachers behaved like Feldwebel (sergeants). I wanted to learn what I wanted to know, but they wanted me to learn for the exam” (biographyonline, 2016). At age sixteen he dropped out of Luitpold Gymnasium.
At that same age Einstein proceeded to take the entrance examination into the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. While he excelled in math and science, the other subjects weren’t up to par. Einstein ended up failing the entrance exam. The principle of the school recommended to Einstein that he attend the Cantonal School in Aarau, Switzerland. Einstein took the advice of the principle and earned his diploma there. He then went on to be admitted to the Federal Institute of Technology. There Einstein realized his passion lay with physics and not mathematics. Einstein passed his examination in 1900 but was unable to obtain the regular assistantship because of one professor’s objection.
Einstein spent nearly two years looking for a teaching position until finally in 1902 took a job at the Federal Office for Intellectual Property, a patent office. At the age of twenty six in 1905, Einstein obtained his doctoral degree and started to work on numerous revolutionary scientific papers. 1905 is stilled considered the annus mirabilis or miracle year by historians because Einstein was able to write and publish four groundbreaking papers in that year. In March of 1905 he wrote his first paper about his creation of the quantum theory of light. Using Maxwell’s theory of light which showed that the more intense incident light shown on a metal the more electrons would be emitted from a piece of metal. Einstein added on to this saying that the light had quanta (photons) that would interact with the electrons like a particle instead of a wave. Through this discovery Einstein proposed that we live in a quantum universe made out of tiny blocks of energy and matter.
In May Einstein again added on to a theory, this time he did it with the Brownian motion. The Brownian motion observed a pollen grain in water in a constant state of agitation. Einstein’s explanation for this was that the grain of pollen was in constant collision from randomly moving water particles. Einstein’s theory showed that the mean distance traveled by a microscopic object increased its odds to collide with molecules overtime. Through Einstein’s theory molecules and atoms became universally accepted and ended “a millennia-old debate on the fundamental nature of the chemical elements.”
His fourth and final paper of 1905 added a twist to his first paper in March. In Einstein’s first paper he treated light as a particle. However when Einstein finished special relativity light was seen as “a continuous field of waves.” Einstein ended up seeing light as both a particle and a wavelength, and with each problem that arose he would confront and solve it. Later in the same year Einstein extended on to his special relativity. This time Einstein was able to prove energy and matter are linked through the equation E=mc^2. This is equation shows much potential energy is stored in the molecular level when times by the speed of light by an objects mass. Through this equation we were able to find longer lasting sources of energy such as nuclear power.
After the miracles year of 1905 Einstein went on a twenty year run of making significant contributions to physics. He would create the theory of general relativity in 1915 which states that gravity and acceleration are equivalent. He went on to say that “matter and energy actually mold the shape of space and the flow of time.” In 1917 he made a model of our universe using general relativity. Many people believe that general relativity was his best work, and the highlight of his career. Finally in 1924 Einstein revisited his quantum theory and made one last contribution. He predicted a matter Bose-Einstein condensate.
Einstein spent his life dedicated to the unknown, he was always curious about things. Whether they be small or big scale he didn’t matter. He was always curious about how things worked, and that’s how he spent his life. Einstein was one of the greatest minds of this century, and while we may never see another Einstein. His work and impact on physics will live on forever.
BibliographyBasu, T. (2014). Top 12 People with Highest IQ in the World. Retrieved from http://listovative.com/: http://listovative.com/top-12-people-highest-iq-world/
Carroll, J. (2014, September 24). A FUN WAY OF UNDERSTANDING E=MC2. Retrieved from universetoday.com: http://www.universetoday.com/114617/a-fun-way-of-understanding-emc2/
Collins, G. (2005). Einstein’s Theory of Brownian Motion and Diffusion. Retrieved from http://public.wsu.edu/: http://public.wsu.edu/~collins/Brownian-poster-final.pdf
Einstein, A. (2016). Albert Einstein Quotes. Retrieved from http://www.biographyonline.net/scientists/albert-einstein-quotes.html: http://www.biographyonline.net/scientists/albert-einstein-quotes.html
Einstein, A. (n.d.). Albert Einstein Quotes. Retrieved from brainyquotes.com: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins118979.html
Golden, F. (1999). Albert Einstein. Retrieved from Time.com: http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,993017,00.html
Hyperhistory. (2016). Albert Einstein. Retrieved from www.hyperhistory.com: http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/index_n2/einstein_theory.html
NASA. (2005). Picking on Einstein. Retrieved from http://science.nasa.gov/: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/28mar_gamma/
nobelprize. (2016). Albert Einstein-Biographical. Retrieved from nobelprize.org: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/einstein-bio.html
notablebiographies. (2016). Albert Einstein Biography. Retrieved from notablebiographies.com: http://www.notablebiographies.com/Du-Fi/Einstein-Albert.html
Panganiban, R. (2016). 11 Unserious Photos of Albert Einstein. Retrieved from mentalfloss.com: http://mentalfloss.com/article/49222/11-unserious-photos-albert-einstein
Reflective Essay
It was incredible being able to research someone as genius as Albert Einstein. I mean you always hear about Einstein but you never really understand just how extraordinary the man was. He thought in a way that would drive most people insane, and he wouldn’t stop thinking about something until he figured it out or he would go insane. When I was researching for this paper, and just reading all of his theory’s and contribution’s to science it really did make my head hurt. Honestly half the time I didn’t really understand what a lot of it meant. I kept having to backtrack and look at other pieces of information in order to even remotely grasp it. For Einstein however it made perfect sense that to me is just incredible.
One thing that stood out to me is that when I was looking up quotes by Einstein there would always be a lot of quotes about creativity and curiosity. He believed those two things to be just as important as knowledge itself. I believe this to be true, if you aren’t curious than you will never ask questions about this. If you aren’t creative than you won’t find ways around problems you will be stuck. Without those two things knowledge just isn’t as important in my eyes. In order to be successful I believe you need all three things.
I have always loved science. Ever since I was little I have loved it. It was the most interesting subject to me, it helped me make sense of everyday things, and my grades were always better in science than in other subjects. Science has challenged me in the past like understanding in depth DNA synthesis or when I was little the cell and all of its organelles. However I have never been more challenged than I have with physics.
Don’t get me wrong it’s a good challenge, it’s good to have difficult things in our lives because it will eventually help us to grow, it doesn’t mean it is always pleasant, but it is necessary. There was a lot of concepts in this class that took me a while to wrap my head around, and by the time I did it I had already taken the test. Even when I wasn’t able to fully grasp what I was learning I was still fascinated by it. For example the string theory absolutely was incredible to me. Whenever we brought up astronomy or the universe I was really fascinated. Like I said before I love science. In all honesty I wish that I would have put more effort into studying for this class. I usually would just show up to class, take notes and listen in class, then go home and do the homework. I never really put forth the additional study. I know this wasn’t the best idea, but I just never have really needed to study for science classes before. This being one of my first classes taken at SLCC I have learned what I believe to be a very important lesson. In order to succeed at the college level you must not only attend class, but you must also really study.
In taking this class not only have I been challenged but I was also able to critique myself and find areas which I need to work on. What I want to take away from this class is better study habits along with asking more questions to my instructor if need be.