In early 1905, an unknown 26-year-old clerk at the Swiss Patent Office, Albert Einstein, published three papers of immense significance. The first concerned the interpretation of Brownian motion (proof of the existence of molecules). The second, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921, concerned the photoelectric effect (quantum theory of light). In the third, he introduced the special theory of relativity.
The theory of relativity revolutionized our understanding of the world and gave new meaning to fundamental concepts such as space, time, matter, and energy. According to the theory of relativity, the dimensions of an object and the duration of a phenomenon are not the same for all observers. For example, the length of a rocket moving at very high speed and the duration of an event on the rocket are measured differently by the rocket’s passengers and by an observer at rest relative to the rocket. Before this theory was formulated, matter and energy were considered separate entities. With the theory of relativity, however, it was proven that one can be converted into the other. This explains the production of energy in the Sun.
Einstein and His Chauffeur
The story goes that Einstein’s driver used to sit at the back of the room during every lecture, and after a while he told Einstein that perhaps he could give the lecture himself, having heard it several times. So, at the next stop on the tour, Einstein and the guide switched places, with Einstein sitting in the back, wearing the guide’s uniform. The driver gave the lecture flawlessly! At the end, a member of the audience asked for a detailed explanation regarding the topic of the lecture, to which the professor-driver replied, “Well, the answer to that question is quite simple; I bet my driver, sitting in the back, could answer …”.
Einstein and His Students
During the time Einstein was active as a professor, one of his students came to him and said, “This year’s exam questions are the same as last year’s!” “That’s true,” said Einstein, “but this year all the answers will be different.”
Einstein and German Music
Einstein attended a concert in Germany before World War II, featuring the violinist S. Suzuki. Then two Japanese women played a German piece of music, and a woman in the audience exclaimed: “How wonderful! It sounds so German!” Einstein replied: “Madam, people are all the same!”
Pascal, Einstein, and Newton
It was Pascal, Einstein, and Newton playing hide-and-seek. So it was Einstein’s turn to be “it,” and while Pascal found a very good hiding spot, Newton couldn’t find one. So at the last minute, he draws a square on the floor and steps inside it. As soon as he steps out, Einstein sees him and shouts, “Boo, it’s Newton!” Then Newton jumps out and says, “You messed up—wrong name! I’m not Newton, I’m Pascal!” and Einstein was stumped..
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For those who aren’t physicists… Pascal=Newton/m2
