Einstein's Biography

Author: Xue Chunzhi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Einstein is one of the greatest physicists of the modern era. He loved physics and dedicated his life to theoretical research in the field. He is often called the Copernicus of the 20th century, the Newton of the 20th century. Einstein grew up during a period of rapid transformation in physics. Through the efforts of physicists like him, the development of physics entered a new historical era. The classical physics theory system established by Galileo and Newton underwent nearly 200 years of development. By the mid-19th century, it had achieved remarkable accomplishments due to the discovery of the law of conservation and transformation of energy, the establishment of thermodynamics and statistical physics, and especially the discoveries of Faraday and Maxwell in electromagnetism. These achievements led many physicists at the time to believe that the fundamental theoretical problems in the field of physics had been solved, leaving only minor details for future generations to supplement and develop. However, history took a different course. A series of new phenomena that classical physics could not explain followed: the aether drift experiment, the radioactivity of elements, the motion of electrons, blackbody radiation, the photoelectric effect, and more. Faced with this new situation, physicists generally attempted to resolve contradictions by within the framework of existing theories. However, young Einstein was not bound by tradition. Building on the research of Lorentz and others, he made fundamental changes to basic concepts such as space and time. This theoretical breakthrough opened a new era in physics. The most important contribution of Einstein's life was relativity. In 1905, he published a paper titled "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies," proposing the principle of special relativity and the principle of the constancy of the speed of light, establishing special relativity. This theory included Newtonian mechanics as a special case of low-speed motion. It revealed the essential unity of space and time as forms of material existence, profoundly disclosed the kinematic unity of mechanical and electromagnetic motion, and further revealed the unity of matter and motion (the equivalence of mass and energy). It developed the principle that matter and motion are inseparable and laid the theoretical foundation for the use of atomic energy. Subsequently, after years of arduous effort, in 1915, he established general relativity, further revealing the relationship between four-dimensional spacetime and matter. He pointed out that spacetime could not exist independently of matter, and that the structure and properties of space depended on the distribution of matter. It was not flat Euclidean space but curved Riemann space. According to the theory of gravity in general relativity, he inferred that light would propagate along curved paths rather than straight lines in a gravitational field. This theoretical prediction was confirmed by British astronomers during a solar eclipse in 1919, causing a sensation worldwide. In 1938, he made significant progress in the movement problem of general relativity, deriving the equations of motion from the field equations, thereby further revealing the unity of spacetime, matter, motion, and gravity. The study of general relativity and the theory of gravity has gained attention since the 1960s due to the significant advancements in experimental technology and astronomy. Additionally, Einstein's contributions to cosmology, unified field theory using gravity and electromagnetism, and quantum theory have also advanced the development of physics. Einstein was not only a great scientist but also an outstanding thinker with a deep philosophical spirit. He was also a person with a strong sense of social responsibility. He lived in Germany and the United States, centers of Western political turmoil, and experienced two world wars. He deeply understood the impact that the work of a scientist could have on society and the responsibilities intellectuals owed to society. Einstein was deeply committed to using science to benefit humanity, but he witnessed the immense destruction caused by science and technology in the two world wars. Therefore, he believed that the issue of war and peace was the most pressing problem of the modern era, and he devoted much of his life to speaking out on this issue. His most frequent public statements on political issues were a declaration in 1914 opposing World War I. His last public statement on political issues was the "Russell–Einstein Manifesto" signed in April 1955, which still called for people to unite to prevent a new world war from breaking out. In the gallery of 20th-century thinkers, Einstein embodies justice, kindness, and truth. His character shines as brightly as the sun, moon, and stars, and his scientific contributions will be revered by humanity for all generations. This book not only outlines the life of Einstein with detailed historical facts but also explores the spiritual roots of his thoughts and character from the origins of human culture. In the book, the profound physics theories and legendary stories, viewed through the lens of understanding the historical and cultural process of the 20th century, may form a three-dimensional picture that is both deep and engaging.