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The Photoelectric Effect
Einstein noted that careful experiments involving the photoelectric effect could show whether light consists of particles or waves. In 1887, Heinrich Hertz noticed that shining a beam of ultraviolet light onto a metal plate could cause it to shoot sparks. (“This Month in Physics History”) The Photoelectric Effect led us to reconsider the wave-like nature of light! -
Einstein's Equation
Einstein's celebrated equation E = mc^2, which is likely the only mathematical formula to have reached the status of a cultural icon. The equation expresses the equivalence of mass (m) and energy (E), two physical parameters previously believed to be completely separate. (Dobrijevic and May) His equation provides the key to understanding the most basic natural processes of the universe, from microscopic radioactivity to the Big Bang. -
Avogadro’s Number
When Einstein was working on Brownian motion to explain the erratic movement of particles in a fluid, he came up with an expression for the quantity of Avogadro’s number in terms of measurable quantities. This leads to a path to determine the mass of an atom or the molar mass for each element on the periodic table. Albert Einstein presented a new way of calculating Avogadro’s number and the size of molecules.
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Brownian Motion
The first direct observation of atoms was in Brownian motion. It was Albert Einstein who, starting in his epochal year of 1905, published several papers that explained precisely how Brownian motion could be used to measure the size of atoms and molecules. (“2.1: Brownian Motion - Evidence for Atoms”) Brownian motion also has mathematical applications in stochastic processes. This is widely used in probability, and there are several applications in finance. -
The General Theory of Relativity
In 1915, Albert Einstein published the Theory of General Relativity. This theory mainly consisted of the Theory of Special Relativity but broaden to include gravity. In the theory it explains how the expansion of the universe fits into the the making of black holes and many more ideas and facts. This is significant because it was considered one of the most intellectual achievements in history and the first major theory of gravity since Newtons (Biography.com Editors). -
Microwave Spectroscopy
In 1917, Albert Einstein pointed out that if an atom is surrounded by appropriate radiation it can be stimulated. This discovery called "Stimulated Emission" basically meant that if an atom is surrounded by appropriate radiation it can be stimulated into emitting a laser-like product. This is important because without this theory lasers would not be around today. Without lasers, we would not be able to perform eye operations and have holograms (Meadows 230). -
The Total Solar Eclipse
In 1919 a total solar eclipse occurred that would prove if Albert Einsteins General Theory of Relativity. Sir Author Eddington performed an experiment that plot the positions of the stars during the eclipse and then in their regular positions and compare them. If the stars positions were altered this would mean that Albert Einsteins theory was correct. This is significant because not only did it prove his theory to be correct but it he became widely known afterwards (O'Neill). -
The Quantum Theory of Light
The quantum theory of light was proposed by Einstein, It states that light travels in bundles of energy, and each bundle is known as a photon. Each photon carries a quantity of energy equal to the product of the frequency of vibration of that photon and Planck's constant. (Vedantu) Your cell phone would not exist without the science of quantum mechanics! -
The Expanding Universe
When Einstein developed his General Theory of Relativity in the 1910s, the consensus view was that the universe was static, neither collapsing nor expanding. Einstein’s equations provided a much richer Universe than the one Einstein himself had originally imagined. But like the mythic phoenix, the cosmological constant refuses to go away. Nowadays it is back in full force, as we will see in a future article.(Gleiser) -
Einstein's Black Hole Theory
In 1935, Einstein and physicist Nathan Rosen used the theory of general relativity to elaborate on the idea, proposing the existence of "bridges" through space-time. These bridges connect two different points in space-time, theoretically creating a shortcut that could reduce travel time and distance. The shortcuts came to be called Einstein-Rosen bridges, or wormholes. (Nola Taylor Tillman et al.) In 2016, the (LIGO) announced that it had detected such a signal for the first time in 2015. -
The Manhattan Project
In 1938 an old friend of Einsteins named Otto Hann found that the nucleus of at atom could be broken down into two smaller pieces. Albert and him discovered that by using the his e=mc2 formula this was possible. The Manhattan project was formed and with Albert Einsteins help the first nuclear weapons were formed. This is significant because nuclear weapons would later become a huge threat to all countries especially in war. Albert Einstein later regretted his decision (Meadows 230). -
The Atomic Bomb
Einstein is occasionally credited with the "invention" of nuclear weapons through his equation E = mc^2, but according to the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics's Einstein Online website, the link between the two is tenuous at best. The key ingredient is the physics of nuclear fission, which Einstein had no direct involvement with. Even so, he played a crucial role in the practical development of the first atomic bombs. (Dobrijevic and May)