Albert Einstein

Imagine a young boy struggling in his schoolwork, straining himself beyond limits, and yet not doing a good enough job for his teachers at school. Everyone, including his family, thought he had special needs. This young boy eventually grew up to be one of history’s most recognized scientists and theorists: Albert Einstein. Although rather slow and slightly dim as a child, Einstein still turned out to be an excellent scientist not because of his knowledge and brilliance, but his curiosity and imagination. He always considered himself more of a philosopher than a scientist. During Einstein’s childhood, he was known to have speech difficulties and was usually in trouble with his teachers. Later in his life, he began to display a talent for mathematics, an example being the fact that he taught himself geometry at age 12. After failing an exam to train as an engineer during age 16, he began to study physics and math with the intention of becoming a teacher. In 1901 he married Mileva Maritsch while taking a job as a temporary high school teacher. They had 2 sons before divorcing, and later Einstein married his cousin Elsa Lowenthal. During the year 1905 he earned a Ph.D and published his famous papers on physics. Albert Einstein was a brilliant scientist with a powerful, imaginative mind who theorized multiple revolutionary scientific principles and equations. He was also a social activist who protested against WWI and WWII, and took a step towards ending it.

(http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/einstein-bio.html)

Einstein’s main significance in history was the fact that he alone came up with several theories and equations in the field of physics that were proven to be helpful to people today. One of these theories was the special theory of relativity, which pertains to modern physics and the speed of light. “In 1905 Einstein wrote a paper on what is now known as the special theory of relativity. The paper contained 2 hypotheses. The first stated that the laws of physics had to have the same form in any frame of reference. The 2nd hypothesis stated that the speed of light was a constant” (StarChild: A Learning Center for Young Astronomers). These hypotheses on the theory of relativity are significant in studies of physics today, and have benefited modern scientists. In addition to the special theory of relativity, Einstein made other science-related achievements such as showing how mass and energy were equivalent, or studying the movement of particles. “During a single year, 1905, he produced 3 papers that revolutionized science. These three masterpieces dealt with Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and the special theory of relativity” (Scientists: Their Lives and Works). 1905 was the year where Einstein’s work was truly recognized as a big step towards the understanding of science. Thus, Albert Einstein is an important figure in the historical timeline, especially with the three 1905 papers that marked a major milestone in science.

(http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/einstein.html)

Einstein was a humanitarian; a virtuous person who wanted to make peace among the human race. He would take action to end a war when he could, because he knew it would save lives. “Since the outbreak of WWI, Einstein had been opposed to war, and during the 1920’s and 1930’s he traveled extensively, presenting lectures on his views” (Scientists: Their Lives and Works). Germans criticized Einstein when he spoke out against their involvement in WWI. He thought it might have been because he was Jewish. When the Nazis took over Germany a few years later, Einstein never returned, for he believed that they would never accept him as a Jew. Along with not being afraid to speak up for his beliefs, Einstein also demonstrated selflessness in his ways. “In 1944 he hand wrote his 1905 theory on relativity and allowed it to be auctioned. It sold for six million dollars, which he donated to the effort to win WWII” (StarChild: A Learning Center for Young Astronomers). This act demonstrates selflessness, because he donated all the money his famous theory earned to a war effort. Later, about a week before Einstein’s death, “he agreed to have his name appear on a manifesto calling for the end to nuclear weapons” (StarChild: A Learning Center for Young Astronomers). In conclusion, Albert Einstein was selfless and demonstrated great virtue by stepping up and speaking out for what he thinks is right, and for donating a large sum of money to a good cause.

Einstein was a brilliant, humanitarian scientist who theorized many different postulates and equations in science, and was also a virtuous figure who wanted to stop violence in the world by speaking up and taking the extra mile. Albert Einstein inspires the human race because he used his imagination and creativity along with a dash of knowledge and wit to formulate groundbreaking scientific theories and axioms. In addition, he was a social activist who opposed against violence and hate. Today, these traits and triumphs are not commonly found in people. Einstein’s theories had a powerful effect on the progression of scientific understanding among the human race, and this is why Albert Einstein is my Hero.

Works Consulted

"Albert Einstein - Biography". Nobelprize.org. 3 May 2011 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/einstein-bio.html

“Biography – Albert Einstein.” Old Physics Web Page. Web. 12 May 2011. http://physics.gmu.edu/~jevans/astr103/CourseNotes/EtcText/Bios/einstein.htm “Albert Einstein.” StarChild: A Learning Center for Young Astronomers. Web. 6 May 2011. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/einstein.html

"Albert Einstein." Scientists: Their Lives and Works. Gale, 2006. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 11 May 2011