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If one were to make a list of the five greatest physicists of all time, Albert Einstein would be in that list and maybe would be the first of five. His contributions are enormous: the basis of quantum mechanics, the theory of lasers, and the theory of relativity. In 1905, he showed that only quantum mechanics could explain the photoelectric effect, which had baffled physicists for years. This showed everyone that quantum mechanics was real since it explained physical phenomena. All of our modern electronics are based on quantum mechanics. He used quantum theory to explain the theory of lasers, which was then experimentally verified a few decades later.
A good school project would be to try and enumerate all the applications of lasers – you will be amazed. For example, internet signals are probably carried to your house by lasers shining along glass fiber optical cables. But Einstein is most remembered as having formulated the theory of special relativity for treating physics at speeds near the speed of light and the theory of general relativity for understanding gravity. Both have been extensively experimentally verified. These relativity theories extended the great contributions of Sir Isaac Newton to high speeds and cosmic scales.
Albert Einstein was an interesting man. He admitted that he was not a very good husband to his two wives, but on the professional level he had great integrity. He was born Jewish and spoke about the Old One = God being behind the order of the universe, though I have never seen any evidence that he was ever an orthodox believer – but God knows.
Albert Einstein and the Theory of Relativity, by Herbert Konig, focuses more on his scientific achievements and less on his personal life. This book is part of the Immortals of Science series and is written at a high school level. It is a clear treatment of his science, which will hopefully help the reader to understand his great advances and their impact on humanity.
I have one Einstein anecdote with which to finish this review. In graduate school, when I was just starting to grow in my Christian faith, I came across a book of essays by Einstein on topics outside of physics – religion, war and peace, and other such matters. I worried that this brilliant man would have written deep truths that I could not hope to go against. I could never match his physics brilliance – he is far above my level. What I found back then however, over 40 years ago, was that outside of physics, Albert Einstein was just another smart guy who had opinions like anyone else. His essays make interesting reading but are nowhere near irrefutable. I learned a lesson back then that is worth remembering: outstanding ability in one field does not automatically mean a person is brilliant in any other field.