In his lifetime, Einstein discovered,
formulated and theorized many solutions to problems related to physics. Solutions to some of these problems were
known as: The theory of Relativity; Wave-Particle-Duality; Quantum theory; and
Statistical Mechanics.
In
1907, by using his applications of special relativity, Albert Einstein
discovered that E=MC . In the equation, E=MC , E represented
energy, M the mass, and C the speed of light.
This discovery (E=MC ) would revolutionize the study of physics and
change the conventional thinking of the relation between the speed of light,
mass, and energy.
More
than half a century later, this simple formula would alter the course of human
history, by ending world war II, with the explosion of atomic bombs above
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic bomb
was the practical application of Einstein's theory of Relativity. Little did Einstein know when he was a young
physicist, that his theory of relativity would fifty years later bring the dawn
of the nuclear age.
Einstein's
theory of relativity changed the thinking regarding some basics theories of
physics. Prior to this theory of
relativity no one understood that energy
was the product of the mass times the speed of light squared. Prior to Einstein's discovery, there was no
theory showing how, energy, the speed of light, and mass, all relate to each
other. Conventional wisdom stated that
the atom and the nucleus of the atom was an indivisible unit. No one dreamed that splitting an atom of
matter could unleash such a tremendous force of energy. However, in the nineteenth century (1862),
James Maxwell wrote the equations of Michael Faraday's theory, that light
(energy) consisted of an electric field traveling at right angles to a magnetic
field. In fact, it was upon this
"field concept" that Einstein later drew the basis for his Theory of
Relativity.[1]
On
July 12, 1887, Albert Michelson and Edward Morley took measurements of the data
from their experiment testing their theory on ethers.(Ethers were thought to
fill all space and penetrate all matter.)
Many scientists in the world were very curious as to what the outcome of
the experiment would bring. The Michelson-Morley
experiment failed. Two perpendicular
light beams sent through mirrors and telescopes took the exact same amount time
to make their respective round trips.
Through the failure of the experiment, Michelson and Morley were unable
to detect an ether.[2]
Over
the last sixty years there have been numerous applications of Einstein's
theory. The two most striking results
have been the development of atomic and
hydrogen bombs, and nuclear power stations.
Up
until several years ago, the fate of the world was controlled by the two
superpowers of the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., each with vast quantities of nuclear
war-heads aimed at each other. The political
balance between was maintained by the fear of each other's nuclear bombs.
The
other major influence affects us all in a more positive manner. Here in Thornhill, part of our electrical
energy that we consume every day is produced by Ontario Hydro Nuclear reactor
stations. In a country like France, more
than half of their electricity needs are provided by nuclear energy.
Einstein's
theory of relativity opened whole new spectrum of thinking for scientists around
the world.
In
1924, a young Indian physicist, S.N. Bose, set froth a theory in which
radiation was treated as a gas of light quanta. Einstein
applied Bose's new statistical idea to develop an analogous theory for an ideal
gas of material particles.
In
the same year of Bose's theory, Louis de Broglie wrote a thesis on the parallel
between the gas of particles and the gas of light quanta. This thesis was brought on by using the
theory of relativity as the basis of thinking.
This thesis in turn, inspired Einstein to successfully prove the
wave-particle duality in 1926.[3]
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