Einstein

[ ahyn-stahyn; German ahyn-shtahyn ]

noun

1. Al·bert [al, -bert, ahl, -be, r, t], 1879–1955, German physicist, U.S. citizen from 1940: formulator of the theory of relativity; Nobel Prize 1921.
2. Al·fred [al, -frid, ahl, -f, r, et], 1880–1952, German musicologist in U.S.
3. (lowercase) Physics, Chemistry. a unit of radiant energy, equal to the energy of radiation that is capable of photochemically changing one mol of a photosensitive substance.

Einstein

/ ˈaɪnstaɪn /

noun

1. EinsteinAlbert18791955MUSGermanSCIENCE: physicistSCIENCE: mathematician Albert. 1879–1955, US physicist and mathematician, born in Germany. He formulated the special theory of relativity (1905) and the general theory of relativity (1916), and made major contributions to the quantum theory, for which he was awarded the Nobel prize for physics in 1921. He was noted also for his work for world peace

Einstein

/ īn′stīn′ /

1. German-born American theoretical physicist whose theories of Special Relativity (1905) and General Relativity (1916) revolutionized modern thought on the nature of space and time and formed a theoretical base for the exploitation of atomic energy. He won the 1921 Nobel Prize for physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.

Derived Forms

• Einˈsteinian, adjective

Biography

By around 1900, the increased precision of new measuring instruments had shown that the laws of motion and gravity established by Galileo and Newton were unable to explain certain phenomena. The observed orbit of Mercury, for example, differed slightly from that predicted by Newton, and laws describing the motion of electromagnetic waves left many electrical effects unexplained. In 1905, an unknown 26-year-old patent office clerk named Albert Einstein published four papers that not only solved these problems, but revolutionized physics. The first two presented his Special Theory of Relativity, which departed from the classical Newtonian concepts of space and time in its assertion that all reference frames (all coordinate systems) do not measure space and time equivalently. That is, space and time are not the same throughout the universe, but depend on the motion of the observer. But for Einstein, not everything was relative. Following the electromagnetic theory of Maxwell, Einstein argued that the speed of light is the same for all observers, and introduced a new concept of space-time to reconcile this with concepts of relative motion. He also introduced the famous equation expressing a direct relation between mass and energy, E = mc ², known as mass-energy equivalence. A third paper analyzed electromagnetic radiation such as light in terms of particles called photons, and explained how some substances, when exposed to such radiation, eject electrons in a quantum process called the photoelectric effect. A fourth paper explained the random movement of particles suspended in a fluid, now known as Brownian motion. In 1916, in his General Theory of Relativity, Einstein described gravity as a warping of space-time (as opposed to Newton's force) caused by the mere presence of objects possessing mass. Einstein's new conception of gravity correctly predicted Mercury's observed orbit, and his work on photons led to a more accurate description of electromagnetic radiation. In his later years, Einstein devoted himself to a search for a theory that would unify gravity with the other three fundamental forces in nature: the strong force, the electromagnetic force, and the weak force. This search is still ongoing.

Example Sentences

We need a different level of thinking and analysis, as Einstein advised.

From Salon

“Our study completes the work of Albert Einstein in his attempt to relate gravity and electromagnetism forces in the same geometric theory,” Monjo, a professor of mathematics at Saint Louis University in Spain, told Salon.

From Salon

Its particle/wave title alludes to the often mystifying duality of subatomic reality, which drove major scientific discovery for three centuries, from Isaac Newton to Albert Einstein.

From Los Angeles Times

"There have been so many notable figures on this stage, like Winston Churchill, Charles De Gaulle and Einstein. But I'm almost 99% sure they didn't have a dress as nice as this."

From BBC

Einstein, Kubrick — Eliasson never lets obscure optical physics swamp the viewer’s experience, frequently nodding to the common imagery of popular culture as a congenial anchor.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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• astute
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• talented