Albert Einstein
Any list of the greatest thinkers in history contains the name of the brilliant physicist Albert Einstein. His theories of relativity led to entirely new ways of thinking about time, space, matter, energy, & gravity. Einstein’s work led to such scientific advances as the control of atomic energy, even television is a practical application of Einstein’s work. In 1902 Einstein became an examiner in the Swiss patent office in Bern. In 1905, at the age of 26, he published the first of five major research papers. The first one provided a theory explaining Brownian movement, the zigzag motion of microscopic particles in suspension. The second paper laid the foundation for the photon, or quantum, theory of light. In it he proposed that light is composed of separate packets of energy, called quanta or photons that have some of the properties of particles & some of the properties of waves. A third paper contained the “special theory of relativity” which showed that time & motion are relative to the observer, if the speed of light is constant & the natural laws are the same everywhere in the universe. The fourth paper was a mathematical addition to the special theory of relativity. Here Einstein presented his famous formula, E=mc2, known as the energy mass equivalence. In 1918, Einstein published his general theory of relativity. In it he proposed that gravity is not a force, but a curve in the space-time continuum, created by the presence of mass. Einstein spoke out frequently against nationalism, the exalting of one nation above all others. He opposed war & violence & supported Zionism, the movement to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. When the Nazis came to power in 1933, they denounced his ideas. He then moved to the United States. In 1939 Einstein learned that two German chemists had split the uranium atom. Einstein wrote to President Franklin d. Roosevelt warning him that this scientific knowledge could lead to Germany developing an atomic bomb. He suggested the United States begin its own atomic bomb research. 24 1. Where was Albert Einstein born? A In Switzerland. B In United States. C In Germany. D In Israel. 2. Einstein’s primary work was in the field of _____ A physics. B chemistry. C biology. D engineering. 3. According to Einstein, light is composed of separate packets of energy called _____ A gamma rays. B electronics. C photoelectrons. D quanta. 4. Einstein contributed to the development of mathematics in his _____ A first paper. B second paper. C fourth paper. D fifth paper. 5. In his theory of relativity Einstein proved that _____ A gravity in a force. B microscopic particles move in suspension. C time & motion are relative to the observer. D the natural laws are the same everywhere in the world.
23. Read the text below. Choose from (A-H) the one which best fits each space (1-6). There are two choices you do not need to use.
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