One of the greatest advancements in physics was Einstein's Theory of Relativity!
In “How Einstein Reinvented Reality,”
Isaacson Walter explains the steps and personal challenges Einstein took to
create his Theory of Relativity. Beginning in 1907, Einstein had the brilliant
thought of the falling man. He posed the question; if a man falls, will he feel
his weight? The overall goal Einstein created was to describe his theory within
two mathematical formulas. On how the gravitational field acts on matter, and
how it relates to space-time. He then proceeded to test his thought of the falling
man within a closed chamber which simulated free fall. However, the experiment
was flawed because of the inability to separate what gravity affected, and what
acceleration affected. Einstein thus determined that gravity and acceleration
were equivalent. Around this time Einstein had many personal hardships
surrounding his difficult divorce. Stress was created by the struggled he had
over custody rights for his two sons. Nevertheless, even though his move back
to Berlin he was constantly working on his theory. A fellow physicist Hilbert
was on track to discovering the same equation; this put pressure on Einstein to
finish. Also, pushing him to finish was the Prussian Academy; they had
scheduled him for four lectures in order for him to explain his discoveries.
Finally, when Einstein rushed to finished he advanced it to the simple
mathematical equation E=mc². On November 25, he gave his final lecture and
titled it “The Field Equations of Gravitation.” With great pride, Einstein at
age thirty six, after eight years of research and testing he achieved his goal.
He is now world renowned for his hard work to rethinking reality.
Walter, Isaacson. "How
Einstein Reinvented Reality." Scientific America 313.3 (2015):
38-45. Web.28 Sept.
2015.
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