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algebra, 22, 257 Einstein’s letter to • A • allowed orbits, 245 Roosevelt, 10, 270, Alpha Centauri (star), 145 286–287 Aarau Cantonal School, 2 25, 26, 338 alpha decay, 339 E=mc equation and, 10, 13, Abbot, Edwin (author), 295 alpha particles, 237–240, 43–44 absolute motion, 39–40, 273, 339 Little Boy, 285 42–43, 128–130 alpha ray, 237, 271, 339 use in World War II, 44, 287 absolute spacetime, 224 amber, 82–83 atomic clock, 182, 214–217, absolute zero temperature, Ampère, André Marie 220–221 70, 74–75 (physicist), 92 atoms acceleration Ampère-Maxwell law, 95–96 Bernoulli’s use in due to gravity, 113, 169 Ampère’s law, 92 calculating gas equivalence with gravity, Andromeda (galaxy), 146 properties, 234 169 Annalen der Physik (journal), Bohr model of, 245–246, 257 mass and, 150 38, 41, 176, 188 composition, 154–156 Newton’s second law of Annual Review of Radio- Democritus and, motion and, 63 activity and Electronics 53, 231–232 special theory of relativity (journal), 163 elements and, 234–235 and, 143–144 anthropomorphism, 324 light emission from, 152 thought experiment, antigravity, 208, 304–305 mechanics, 257 168–169 Archimedes (Greek nuclear forces, 154–155, time and, 181–182 scientist), 53 272–273, 282–284, universe expansion, 307 Aristarchus (Greek philoso- 317–318 action and reaction, law of, pher/scientist), 50, 51 number in salt grain, 234 63, 64 Aristotle (Greek philoso- plum pudding analogy, Adams, John (scientist), 82 pher/scientist), 236–237 Advanced Camera for 50, 57, 232 probing with alpha Surveys, 148, 307 arrow of time, 70, 76–78 particles, 237–240 aging, general theory of art, appreciation by Rutherford’s nuclear model relativity and, 181–185 Einstein, 11 of, 240–241 air drag, 166, 170 Aspect, Alain (physicist), 267 size, 241 Albert Einstein, A COPYRIGHTEDastigmatism, 109 MATERIALspectra of, 256–257 Biographical Portrait astronaut training, 167 superatoms, 255 (Anton Reiser), 336 astronomy visualizing with scanning Albert Einstein: Creator and ancient Greeks and, 50–52 tunneling microscope, Rebel (Banesh Hoffman Babylonians and, 50 232–233 and Helen Dukas), 337 Copernicus and, 54 Australian National Albert Einstein, the Human Galileo Galilei and, 60 University, 306 Side (Banesh Hoffman Kepler and, 54–56 Avenarius, Richard and Helen Dukas), 337 atomic bomb (philosopher), 326 Alder, Frederich (scientist), chain reactions, 281–282 Avogadro, Amadeo 158–159 critical mass, 284 (physicist), 232 Avogadro’s number, 45, 232 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 350

350 Einstein For Dummies

Hawking-Thorne wager, Brookhaven National • B • 201 Laboratory, 316 Baade, Walter hunting for, 199 Brown, Robert (physicist), 195 journey into, 204–205 (botanist), 232 Babylonians, 50 properties, 201–205 Brownian motion, 41, 45, 78 barium, 278 quasars, 198 Bulletin of the Atomic Becquerel, Henri (scientist), radiation from, 203–204 Scientists, 288 236, 271, 338 rotating, 197 buoyancy, principle of, 53 Bekenstein, Jacob roundness of, 202 Burger, Dionys (physicist), 74 Schwarzschild radius, (mathematician), 295 Bell, Jocelyn 192–194 (astronomer), 198 worm holes connecting, 342 • C • Bell, John (physicist), 266 Black Holes and Time Warps Bell’s inequality, 266 (Kip Thorne), 201 calculus, 22–23, 62, 65 Bennett, Charles Blinov, Boris (scientist), 268 calendar, Babylonian, 50 (scientist), 268 Bohr, Niels (physicist) Caltech, 195–196, 198, 201, Bernoulli, Daniel arguments concerning 204, 206 (mathematician), 234 reality, 325 Cambridge University, Bernstein, Aaron (Popular atomic model, 245–246, 257 198, 201 Books on Natural attitude toward Einstein, 9 Cannon, Robert Science), 21 Copenhagen interpretation (scientist), 222 Bessel, Friedrich of quantum physics, 266 Carnegie Institution, 305 (astronomer), 51 Heisenberg and, 255 Carter, Brandon Besso, Michelangelo liquid drop as model for (physicist), 197 (Michele) (friend of heavy nucleus, 278–279 Casimir effect, 209, 312 Einstein), 131, 291 response to Einstein’s EPR Casimir, Hendrik (physicist), beta decay, 274–275, 316 argument, 266 209, 312 beta particle, 339 uncertainty principle Cassini, Jean-Dominique beta ray, 237, 271, 274, 339 and, 264 (astronomer), 98–99 Betelgeuse (star), 129 Boltzmann, Ludwig cathode ray tube (CRT), Bethe, Hans (physicist), 288 (physicist), 77 235–236 binary system, 306 Born, Max (physicist), cathode rays, 236 binding energy, of the 255, 257, 259, 260 Cavendish laboratory nucleus, 156 Bose, Saryendra (physicist), (Cambridge, biological processes, speed 79, 254 England), 236 of, 142–143 Bose-Einstein condensate, Cepheid stars, 300 black body, 339 79, 255 CERN (European Particle black dwarf, 200, 339 Bose-Einstein statistics, Physics Laboratory), black holes 254 213–214, 317, 318 dark stars, 191–192 Boyle, Robert (scientist), 234 cesium, atomic clock, 182 definition, 187, 339 Boyle’s law, 234 chain reactions, 281–282 Einstein’s skepticism about, Brahe, Tycho (astronomer), Chandrasekhar limit, 306 187, 194–195 54–55 Chandrasekhar, entropy, 74 brain, examination of Subrahmanyan escape velocity and, Einstein’s, 7–8 (physicist), 195 190–192 Braun, K. (scientist), 225 charge, electric, 84–89 event horizon, 202, 205, 340 A Brief History of Time Charon (moon of Pluto), 145 general theory of relativity (Stephen Hawking), 201 Chavan, Louis (student of and, 190–194 Einstein), 160 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 351

Index 351

classical physics, Newton’s introduction of by Einstein, dilating time, 137–138, 140, creation of, 61 16, 295, 301, 303 194, 214–215, 217 Clausius, Rudolf revival of, 303, 307 Dirac, Paul (physicist), (scientist), 242 Coulomb, Charles Augustin 90, 187, 260, 311 clock de (scientist), 86, 87 Discourses and Mathematical atomic, 182, 214–217, covariance, principle of, 176 Demonstrations 220–221 critical density, 310 Concerning Two New Galileo’s wine bottle, critical mass, 284–285 Sciences Pertaining to 58, 113 critical size, star, 191, 192 Mechanics and Local satellite, 220–221 Critique of Pure Reason Motion. See The Two New CMB (Cosmic Microwave (Immanuel Kant), 21, 326 Sciences (Galileo Galilei) Background), 309 crow’s nest, dropping ball disorder, 73–74 coherent beams, from, 114 Doppler effect 108, 125, 339 CRT (cathode ray tube), black holes and, 205 coincidence of an event, 176 235–236 definition, 340 CoKu Tau 4 (star), 145 Curie, Marie (scientist), 174, expanding universe collapsing stars, 195–196 236, 271, 338 and, 298 collisions of objects, 151 Curie, Pierre (scientist), 236, general theory of relativity color 271, 338 and, 183, 193 from hot objects, 38–39, curved spacetime, 177–178, Drude, Paul 241–244 180, 197, 222–228, 294 electromagnetism and, 32 Newton’s theory of colors, curved surfaces, geometry Physics of the Ether, 32 62, 104–106 of, 174 theory of metals, 233 Columbia University, 173 Cygnus X-1 (black hole), du Fay, Charles (scientist), 83 compass, 19, 90–91 199, 201 Dukas, Helen (secretary to concept, 326 Einstein) Conference on Science, Albert Einstein: Creator and Philosophy, and Religion • D • Rebel, 337 (1940), 323 Dalton, John (scientist), Albert Einstein, the Human conservation laws, 203, 339 53, 231, 235 Side, 337 conservation of energy, dark energy, 309, 310, as secretary, 337, 338 70–72, 151, 339 311, 313, 314 Contact (movie), 207 dark matter, 305–306, Copenhagen interpretation of 310, 339 •E • quantum physics, 266 dark star, 191–192 Earth Copernicus, Nicolaus de Broglie, Louis (scientist), geocentric model of (astronomer), 54 254, 259 universe, 50, 51–52 Cornell, Eric A. de Sitter, Willem gravitational force of, 171 (scientist), 255 (astronomer), 296 movement through corpuscles, Newton’s, Democritus (Greek philoso- ether, 119 190–192 pher), 53, 231–232 rotation of, 50, 51, 54 Cosmic Microwave Descartes, René eclipse, solar, 178–179 Background (CMB), 309 (philosopher/ Eddington, Arthur cosmic rays, 141 mathematician), 150 (astronomer), 15, cosmological constant determinism, 324, 325 178–179, 185, 296 antigravity and, 304–305 deuterium, 285 education, of Einstein dark energy, 309, 311, Dicke, Robert (scientist), 170 in algebra and calculus, 313, 314 diffraction, 108, 340 22–23 Friedmann’s removal of, 296 college, 27–35 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 352

352 Einstein For Dummies

education, of Einstein Einstein, Maja (Maria) electrodynamics of moving (continued) (sister of Albert) bodies, 41 description, 8 birth, 17, 329, 331 electromagnetic elementary school, childhood, 18 radiation, 275 19–20, 322 closeness to Albert, 18, 31 electromagnetic wave in geometry, 21 death, 332 light, 100, 102 in Greek, 20 education, 31, 158, 331 movement through PhD dissertation, 41, 45 music, 11, 19 space, 96 in physics, 27 writings about Albert, speed of waves, 100–103 rejected thesis, 233 18, 20, 155, 156, 332 thermal radiation as, 242 religious, 22, 322, 323 Einstein, Margot wavelength, 103 secondary school, (stepdaughter of Albert), electromagnetism 20–21, 322 331, 337 absolute motion and, 40 self-taught, 22–23 Einstein, Mileva. See Maric, Ampère’s law, 92 senior thesis, 34–35 Mileva compass, 19 Swiss Cantonal school in Einstein, Pauline (mother of current production, Aarau, 25, 26 Albert) 92–94 teachers, relationships birth of Albert, 7, 329 Einstein’s reformulation of, with, 20–21, 31, 38 death, 331 43, 129 Einstein, Albert The Meaning disapproval of Mileva, Einstein’s study of, 32 of Relativity, 301 36, 330 Hertz and, 100–103 Einstein: An Intimate Study of education of Albert, inconsistency with a Great Man (Dimitri 19, 20, 23 mechanics, 126–130 Marianoff), 337 marriage, 329 Maxwell’s theory, 31, 33, Einstein and Religion (Max music and, 11, 19, 329–330 38, 95–96, 127–128 Jammer), 321 Einstein, Rudolf (uncle of motion and, 127–130 Einstein, Eduard (son of Albert), 335 Oersted’s experiments, Albert), 333, 334 Einstein x-ray telescope, 199 90–92 Einstein, Elsa (wife of Einstein-Rosen bridge, 207 radio invention, 102 Albert), 11, 334, 335–336 Einstein’s field equation, relativity and, 126–130 Einstein, Fanny (aunt of 188–189 spectrum, 104 Albert), 335 electric charge, 84–89 electron microscope, 254 Einstein, Hans Albert (son of electric current electrons Albert), 333 definition, 90, 340 beta decay and, 274–275 Einstein, Hermann (father of magnetic field generation charge, 84, 236 Albert) by, 90–91 collapse, failure to, 241, death, 331 produced from magnetic 244 education of Albert, field, 92–94, 127 definition, 340 19, 23–24 electric fields, 86–88, 127–128 detection of, 274 marriage, 329 electric generator, 94 discovery, 84, 154, occupation, 17, 23 electricity 235–236 views on religion, 322 attraction and repulsion, energy, 245–246 Einstein, Ilse (stepdaughter 84–85 Heisenberg’s uncertainty of Albert), 336–337 du Fay’s experiments principle, 264 Einstein, Jakob (uncle of with, 83 Lorentz’s theory of Albert), 22, 23 Franklin’s experiments matter, 120 Einstein, Lieserl (daughter of with, 83–84 mass, 236 Albert), 334–335 similarity to magnetism, 89 orbits, 245–246 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 353

Index 353

as particles, 262–264 release by nuclear fission, Faraday, Michael (scientist), Paul Drude and, 233 281–284 81, 92–94, 235 photoelectric effect and, sun, 71 Federal Polytechnic Institute. 252–253 superstring theory and, 318 See Polytechnic photons and, 312–313 of the vacuum, 311 Fermi, Enrico (physicist), quantum theory and, 13–14 work and, 70, 147 276, 282, 284 tunneling of, 267 zero point, 75 Feynman, Richard wavelike behavior, entropy, 73–75, 340 (physicist), 311 254, 259, 261, 263 epicycles, 51, 340 field electroweak field, 316–317 EPR problem, 265–268, 325 definition, 87, 340 elements equivalence, principle of, electric, 86–88, 127–128 Aristotle’s, 232 169, 171–173, 175 electroweak, 316–317 description, 234–235 escape velocity, 190–192, 340 magnetic, 88–93 transuranic, 276 ether field ion microscope, 233 ellipse, 55 absolute motion and, 40, 43 first law of thermodynamics, Elsa (wife of Einstein), 11 definition, 40, 340 70–72 E=mc2 equation Earth movement through, FitzGerald, George bending of light and, 172 119, 123–125 (scientist), 120 Christian Huygens and, Einstein’s thoughts on, five-dimensional spacetime, 150–151 33–34, 43, 130 314–315 description, 12 light movement through, Florentine Academy, 57 Einstein’s paper of 1905, 119, 123–125 flying, effect on aging, 41, 43 time measured relative 213–215 first law of thermodynamics to, 121 F=ma equation, 63 and, 71 wind, 125 Foppi, August (Introduction to formulation of, 152–155 Euclidian geometry, 173, 174 Maxwell’s Theory of uses, 12–13, 43–44 Euler, Leonhard Electricity), 32 Emergency Committee of (mathematician), 318 force Atomic Scientists, 288 European Particle Physics attraction between objects, energy Laboratory (CERN), 64–65 binding of nucleus, 156 213–214, 317, 318 electric, 85–86 changes in, 71 European Southern electroweak, 316–317 conservation of, 70–72, Observatory Very Large Newton’s laws of motion, 151, 339 Telescope, 145 63–64 dark, 309, 310, 311, 313, 314 event horizon, 202, 205, 340 nuclear, 154–155, 272–273, definition, 70, 340 Everitt, Francis 317, 318 electrons, 245–246 (scientist), 226 unbalanced, 62 invention of word, 71 Ford, Kent (scientist), 305 living force, 71 fourth dimension, 174–175 mass and, 12, 43, 71, • F • frame dragging, 222–228 147, 152–153 Fairbank, William Franklin, Ben (scientist), missing, 72, 156 (scientist), 222 83–84 of motion, 151 falling, weightlessness and, French, Einstein’s study negative, 208–209 164–167 of, 26 quanta, 248–251 fame Freundlich, Erwin quantum theory and, 13 effect on Einstein, 9 (astronomer), 178, 331 radiation by hot objects, Einstein’s use of, 10 friction, 60–61, 63 241–244 from general theory of relativity, 185–186 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 354

354 Einstein For Dummies

Friedmann, Alexander general theory of relativity. Global Positioning Satellite (scientist), 296–297, 301 See also relativity (GPS) receivers, 220–221 Frisch, Otto (physicist), bending of light, 171–172 gluons, 317 278–279, 287 confirmation of, 15 goals of science, 327–328 future, prediction of, 13–14 description, 14–15 God Einstein’s fame from, Einstein’s idea of, 324 185–186 playing dice, 247, 264 • G • Einstein’s field equation, Goldstein, Eugen galaxy 188–189 (scientist), 241 Andromeda, 146 equivalence of gravitational GPS (Global Positioning brightness, 198 and inertial mass, Satellite) receivers, dark matter, 305–306 170–171 220–221 definition, 340 equivalence of gravity and Grand Unified Theory, 317 distances to, 299–300 accelerated motion, 169 gravitational field, 88, 193 gravity and, 308 predictions, 213 gravitational mass, Hubble’s discovery of, 299 principle of covariance, 176 148, 170–171 Large Magellanic Cloud, 200 principle of equivalence, gravitational repulsion, 208 Milky Way, 198, 200, 298 169, 171–173 gravity universe expansion Riemannian geometry acceleration due to, and, 308 and, 174 113, 169 Galilean principle of treating space and time the as curved spacetime, 88 relativity, 118 same, 175–176 energy and, 304 Galileo Galilei weightlessness, 164–167 equivalence with astronomy and, 60 general theory of relativity, acceleration, 169 clock, wine bottle, 58, 113 implications of general theory of relativity education, 56 aging more slowly, and, 15, 169–171, gravitational mass, 170 181–185, 214–215 176–177, 193 motion experiments, black holes, 190–194 geometry and, 177 57–61, 113–115 deflection of light, 177–179 light time-delay effect, music and, 57 Global Positioning Satellite 217–219 relativity and, 113–118 (GPS) receivers, 220 Newton and, 62, 63, 65 scientific method, 59 orbit of Mercury explained, pressure and, 304, 307 speed of light experi- 179–181 quantum, 318 ments, 98 time travel, 205–210 relative nature of, 169 The Starry Messenger, 60 warped spacetime, 177 slowing of time by, 184, 208 thought experiments, geocentric model, Gravity Probe A (NASA 59–61, 115 50, 51–52, 340 mission), 216–217, 226 The Two New Sciences, geometry Gravity Probe B (NASA 57, 115 Einstein’s study of, 21 mission), 211, 226–228 gamma rays, 237, 275, Euclidian, 173, 174 Greek, Einstein’s study of, 20 285, 340 Riemannian, 174 Greeks, ancient, 50–53, Gamow, George (physicist/ Schwarzschild, 189, 192 82, 232 cosmologist), 301 of spacetime, 187–189 Green, Michael (physi- gases German citizenship, 24 cist), 318 Avogadro and, 232 Gilbert, William (The Grimaldi, Francesco Maria Bernoulli and, 234 Magnet), 82 (scientist), 108 Boyle’s law, 234 Glashow, Sheldon Grossmann, Marcel (friend of Geiger, Hans (scientist), (physicist), 316, 317 Einstein), 28, 173 237–239 gyroscopes, 222, 226–228 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 355

Index 355

Hurwitz, Adolf (profes- Jet Propulsion Laboratory • H • sor), 27 (JPL), 206, 218, 219 H bomb, 285 Huygens, Christian Jordan, Pascual, 257, 259 Habicht, Conrad (friend of (scientist), 44, 99, Josephson junction, 267 Einstein), 132, 153, 155 150–151 Journal of Applied Chemistry, Hafele, J.C. (scientist), hydrogen, 241, 256, 260 276 214–215 hydrogen bomb, 285 Judaism, 322 Hahn, Otto (chemist), Jupiter’s moons, 98–99 277–280 • I • harmonic law, Kepler’s, 55, 56 • K • Harvard University, 196, 216, icons, used in book, 4 299, 316–317 Imperial College London, 316 Kaluza, Theodor (mathemati- Harvey, Thomas induction law, Faraday’s, 94 cian), 314–315 (pathologist), 7 inertia, 148, 341 Kant, Immanuel (Critique of Hauptman, Gerhart inertial mass, 148–150, Pure Reason), 21, 326 (novelist), 322 170–171 Karl-Ferdinand Univer- Hawking radiation, 204 infrared telescope, 146 sity, 173 Hawking, Stephen (physicist) Institute for Advanced Kayser, Rudolf (husband of black holes, 74, 201, Studies (Princeton, New Ilse Einstein), 336 203, 204 Jersey), 9, 10 Keating, Richard (scientist), A Brief History of Time, 201 interference 214–215 chronology protection definition, 341 Kepler, Johannes hypothesis, 209–210 Michelson-Morley experi- (astronomer), 54–56 heat, direction of flow, 70, 72 ment, 125–126 Kerr, Roy (scientist), 197, 207 Heisenberg, Werner, 255–257 patterns of electrons, Ketterle, Wolfgang Heisenberg’s uncertainty 254, 261, 263–264 (scientist), 255 principle, 264, 266–267, Young’s experiments, Kirkchhoff, Gustav 325, 340, 342 108, 109 (physicist), 36, 242 heliocentric model, 51, 54 interferometer, 125 Klein, Oscar (physicist), 315 helium, 256, 282, 285 International Congress of Kleiner, Alfred (professor), Hertz, Heinrich (physicist), Arts and Sciences 157, 158, 233 32, 33, 96, 100–103, 252 (1904), 121 Koch, Caesar (uncle of Hewitt, Anthony International Space Station, Einstein), 34 (astronomer), 198 165, 166, 168 High-z Supernova Search interstellar travel, 145–146 Team, 306 Introduction to Maxwell’s • L • Hilbert, David Theory of Electricity Lagrange, Joseph-Louis (mathematician), 144 (August Foppi), 32 (mathematician), 11 Hoffman, Banesh (professor) inverse square law, 85–86, 89 landmark experiment, 109 Albert Einstein: Creator and Io (Jupiter moon), 98–99 Langevin, Paul (profes- Rebel, 337 iron-56, 283 sor), 254 Albert Einstein, the Human irreversibility, 77 Laplace, Pierre Simon de Side, 337 island universes, 299 (The System of the Hubble, Edwin (astronomer), Italy, Einstein’s life in, 23–24 World), 191 16, 299–301 Large Magellanic Cloud, 200 Hubble Space Telescope, laser, 16, 341 16, 148, 306–307 • J • law of areas, Kepler’s, 56 Hume, David (philoso- Jammer, Max (Einstein and pher), 326 Religion), 321 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 356

356 Einstein For Dummies

law of induction, Faraday’s, 94 diffraction, 108, 340 law of orbits, Kepler’s, 56 Doppler-shifted, 193, 298 • M • law of universal gravitation, as electromagnetic wave, Mach, Ernst (Mechanics), 32 Newton’s, 62, 63, 65, 100, 102 The Magnet (William 85–86 energy of emitted, 152 Gilbert), 82 Lawrence Berkeley National gravity effect on, 193, magnetic fields Laboratory, 306 217–219 black holes and, 202 Le Verrier, Urbain Jean interference, 108, 109, description, 88–89 Joseph (scientist), 125–126 electric current produced 82, 179 movement through from, 92–94, 127 League of Nations ether, 119 generation by electricity, commission, 338 Newton’s corpuscles, 90–92 Leavitt, Henrietta (scientist), 190–192 propagation of, 93 299–300 Newton’s theory of colors magnets, 88–91 length contraction equation, and, 104–106 Manhattan Project, 196, Lorentz’s, 120–121 as particles, 101, 249 287, 288 Lense, Josef (physicist), 222 photoelectric effect and, Marianoff, Dimitri (Einstein: Levine, Martin (scientist), 252–253 An Intimate Study of a 216–217 photon, 13, 42, 341 Great Man), 337 life extension of muons, quanta, 13, 39, 248–251 Maric, Mileva (wife of 213–214 quantum theory, 41–42 Einstein) life of Einstein refraction, 60 children, 333–334 birth, 17 time standing still, 145, 149 death, 334 childhood, 8, 17–23 ultraviolet catastrophe, depression, 333 children, 333–334 38–39 divorce, 334 discipline, aversion to, 19 as a wave, 40, 42, final exams, 35 education, 8, 19–23, 24–35 108–110, 192 as intellectual companion, fame, 9 wavelength of, 104, 29–30 first love, 25 108–109, 193 jealousy, 31 fortune, 9–10 lightening, Franklin’s letter exchange, 30, 332 in Italy, 23–24 experiments, 83 marriage, 333 marriages, 333, 335 liquid drop, as model meeting Einstein, 29 miracle year, 37, 40, 66 for heavy nucleus, Olympic Academy, 132 mountain accident, 27 278–279 Pauline Einstein’s music, love of, 19 Little Boy (bomb), 285 disapproval of, 36, 330 Olympic Academy, 132, 326 living force, 71 Mariner missions (NASA), 219 patent office work, 37, 38 Loewenthal, Max (first Mars, motion of, 55 politics, 10 husband of Elsa Marsden, Ernest (scien- speech development, 17, 18 Einstein), 335 tist), 239 teaching, 157–160 Lorentz, Hendrik Antoon mass timeline, 343–347 (scientist), 120–121, acceleration and, 150 work, 10–11 173, 188 decrease after emission of light. See also speed of light Lorentz-FitzGerald light, 152 bending of, 15, 108, contraction, 120 definition, 71, 341 171–172, 177–179 Luitpold Gymnasium, electron, 236 black holes and, 187, 20–21 energy and, 12, 43, 71, 190–194, 203 Lynden-Bell, Donald 147, 152–153 in curved spacetime, (astronomer), 198 gravitational, 148, 170–171 177–178 inertial, 148–150, 170–171 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 357

Index 357

Newton’s second law of microscope, 232–233, 254 Mount Santis, Einstein’s motion and, 63, 64 microwave, 103 climb of, 27 nucleus, 240 militant activist/pacifist, Mount Wilson Observatory, proton, 241 Einstein as, 10, 288 299, 300 radiation and, 152 Milky Way (galaxy), Mt. Palomar telescope, 197 relative nature of, 149 198, 200, 298 Muhleman, Duane (scientist), weight compared, 71 Mill, John Stuart 218, 219 mass-energy equation. See (philosopher), 326 muons, 141–142, 213–214 E=mc2 equation Mills, Robert (physicist), 316 Museum of Natural History in The Mathematical Collection Minkowski, Hermann Paris, 271 (Claudius Ptolemy), 52 (professor), 27, 144, 174 music, Einstein’s love of, 9, matrix, 257–259 miracle year 11, 19, 330 matrix mechanics, 257, 260 Einstein’s, 37, 40, 66 matter Newton’s, 61, 62, 66, 104 Bose-Einstein condensate, MIT, 218–219, 255 • N • 255 molecules nanometers, 104 dark, 305–306, 310, 339 Avogadro’s number, 232 nanotubes, 156 Lorentz’s theory of calculating diameter of, 232 NASA matter, 120 quantum mechanics, 75 Gravity Probe A mission, wavelike behavior, 254 realness and measurability 216–217, 226 Maxwell, James Clerk of, 15, 41, 45 Gravity Probe B mission, (scientist) temperature as measure of 211, 226–228 electromagnetism theory, speed of, 70, 74, 234 Jet Propulsion Laboratory 31, 33, 38, 95–96 zero point energy, 75 (JPL), 206, 218, 219 statistical mechanics, 77 monochromatic light, 253 Mariner missions, 219 The Meaning of Relativity monopoles, 90 Reduced Gravity Research (Albert Einstein), 301 moon, 64, 165 program, 167 mechanics Morley, Edward (physicist), Space Telescope Science celestial, 62 34, 119, 124–126 Institute, 307 Galileo and, 57–61 Morris, Michael (scien- Viking missions, 219 matrix, 257, 260 tist), 206 Wilkinson Microwave Newton’s laws of motion, motion Anisotropy Probe 38, 62–64, 118 absolute, 39–40, 42–43, (WMAP), 309–311 statistical mechanics, 128–130 National Institute for 69, 77–78 Brownian, 41, 45, 78 Standards, 75 wave, 259–260 detection by electric fields, Nature (journal), 276, 279 Mechanics (Ernst Mach), 32 127–128 Navstar (satellite), 220 Meitner, Lise (physicist), electromagnetism and, nebula, 200, 299 276–280 127–130 negative energy, 208–209 Merck, Marie (wife of Max Galileo and, 57–61, 113–115 negative pressure, 304, 307 Planck), 242 Newton’s laws, 62–64 Neptune, discovery of, 82 Mercury, orbit of, 15, reference frame for, 116, 118 neutrino, 72, 274, 341 179–181, 194 relative, 129–130 neutron stars, 195–196, Michell, John (scientist), shrinkage of objects in, 120 198, 200, 208, 341 190–191 statistical mechanics, 69, neutrons Michelson, Albert (physicist), 77–78 alpha particle, 273 34, 119, 124–126 uniform, 116, 118, 143, beta decay and, 274 Michelson-Morley 163–164 bombarding uranium experiment, 119, 124–126 with, 276 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 358

358 Einstein For Dummies

neutrons (continued) discovery of, 276–280 past, visiting, 206 chain reactions and, 281–282 energy release by, patent office, Einstein’s definition, 341 44, 281–284 employment in, hydrogen bomb and, 285 hydrogen bomb and, 37, 38, 131, 159 neutron stars and, 195 285–286 Pauli, Wolfgang (physicist), nuclear force and, liquid drops as model of, 9, 72 154–156, 272 278–279 Pauling, Linus (scientist), 288 nuclear fusion and, 196 nuclear force Peierls, Rudolf New Horizons (space- description, 154–155 (physicist), 287 craft), 145 limitations, 272–273, 282 Penrose, Roger (physicist), New Idea icon, 4 sensing, 282–284 197, 203 The New York Times, 288, 324 strong, 317, 318 period, planet, 55, 56 Newton, Isaac nuclear fusion, 196, 200 Perlmutter, Saul (scientist), calculus, 62, 65 nuclear physics 306, 307 celestial mechanics, 62 alpha decay, 273 Pernet, Jean (professor), 32 celibacy of, 66–67 beta decay, 274–275 Pfister, Herbert corpuscles, 190–192 Einstein and, 270 (scientist), 225 education, 61–62 limitations of nuclear force, philosophy Einstein compared, 66–67 272–273 Einstein’s study of, 21, 326 frame dragging and, radiating particles, 271 goals of science, 327–328 223–225 nucleus, 240 scientific method and, 327 law of universal gravitation, thinking defined, 326–327 62, 63, 65, 85–86 phone, cordless, 312 miracle year, 61, 62, 66, 104 • O • photoelectric effect, motion, 39, 62–64 Oersted, Hans Christian 13, 42, 252–253 Principia, 118, 165 (professor), 90–92 photons red as favorite color, 105 Olympic Academy, 132, 326 charged, 316–317 theory of colors, Oppenheimer, J. Robert definition, 13, 42, 341 62, 104–106 (scientist), 195–197, 287 Einstein and, 40 theory of fluxions, 65 Orion Nebula, 150, 200 electrons and, 312–313 universe model, 67, 118, oscillation, electromagnetic energy, 249–251, 253 289–290, 304 wave, 103 EPR experiments with, 267 niobium, 227–228 lifetime, 309 Nobel Prize photoelectric effect de Broglie’s 1929 prize, 254 •P • and, 253 Einstein’s 1922 prize, pacifism, 10, 288 teleportation, 268 10, 42, 248 Pais, Abraham (physicist), 9 Physical Review Hahn’s 1944 prize, 280 parallax, 51, 299 (journal), 202 Planck’s 1918 prize, 242 particles Physical Review Letters Rubbia and van der Meer’s muons, 141–142, 213–214 (journal), 206 1984 prize, 317 Newton’s corpuscles, physics Weinberg, Glashow, and 190–192 Newtonian, 62–65 Salam’s 1979 prize, 317 radiation of nuclear, unifying, 314–318 Noddack, Ida (chemist), 276 271–275 Physics of the Ether (Paul nuclear bomb. See atomic subatomic, 14 Drude), 32 bomb superstring theory and, Planck, Max (physicist) nuclear fission 318 biography, 242 chain reactions, 281–282 virtual, 313, 342 Einstein and, 42, 155, 156 definition, 285 W and Z, 317 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 359

Index 359

energy radiation by hot Proceedings of the Prussian Einstein and, 41–42, objects, 39, 241–244, Academy of Science 247–249, 251–254, 248–251 (journal), 189 264–267 light-quantum idea, 253 protons light-quanta, 248–251, 253 quanta and, 39, 244 alpha particle, 273 photoelectric effect, Planck’s constant, beta decay and, 274 252–253 251, 259, 264 charge, 241 Planck’s constant, Planck’s law, 244, 249 definition, 341 251, 259, 264 planetary motion mass, 241 uncertainty principle, ancient Greeks and, 50–52 nuclear force and, 260–267 Babylonians and, 50 154–156, 272 wave mechanics, 259–260 Copernicus and, 54 protostars, 200 quasar, 198, 341 elliptical orbits, 55–56 Proxima (star), 145 Queen Mary College, 318 Kepler and, 55–56 Prussian Academy of Newton and, 64–65 Sciences, 253, 289, 327 periods, 55, 56 Ptolemy, Claudius (Greek • R • Plato (philosopher), 326 astronomer) radar, Doppler, 183 Pluto, 145 geocentric model and, radiation Podolsky, Boris 50, 51–52 energy radiation by hot (scientist), 265 The Mathematical objects, 39, 241–244, Poincaré, Jules Henri Collection, 52 248–251 (scientist), 120–121, 174 pulsar, 198, 341 Hawking, 204 polarization, 267 Pythagoras (Greek mathe- mass and, 152 polonium, 271 matician/scientist), stimulating emission of, 16 Polytechnic 50, 57 thermal, 242–244 admissions test, 24 Pythagorean theorem, 22 x-ray, 236 Einstein’s 1912 return to, radio 173–174 emissions from pulsars and final exams, 35 • Q • quasars, 198 intermediate exams, 28 quanta invention of, 102 senior thesis, 34 definition, 13, 341 radio telescope, 146 Popular Books on Natural Max Planck and, radioactive decay, 152 Science (Aaron 39, 244, 248 radioactivity Bernstein), 21 quantum electrodynamics definition, 341 Preskill, John (scientist), 204 (QED), 311, 313 discovery of, 236, 271, 338 pressure, 304, 307 quantum field theory, 311 radium, 238, 271 Priestley, Joseph (scientist), quantum mechanics, and reality, meaning of, 325 85–86 zero point energy, 75 receiver, radio, 102 Princeton University, 170 quantum physics, 154, 274, red giant, 200, 341 Principia (Isaac Newton), 311, 325 Reduced Gravity Research 118, 165 quantum theory program (NASA), 167 principle of covariance, 176 acceptance of, 253 reference frame principle of equivalence, Bose-Einstein description, 116, 341 169, 171–173, 175 condensate, 255 muon movement and, 141 prism, 104–106, 256 Bose-Einstein statistics, 254 simultaneity and, 136–137 Privatdozent, 157, 158, 242 description, 13–14 uniform motion and, probability, waves of, 260 determinism and, 325 118, 129 refraction, 60 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 360

360 Einstein For Dummies

Reichley, Paul (scientist), resistance, inertia as, Schiff, Leonard (physicist), 218, 219 148–150, 170 222, 226–227 Reiser, Anton (Albert Einstein, rest, uniform motion Schmidt, Brian (scientist), A Biographical equivalence to, 116, 118 306, 307 Portrait), 336 reversibility, 77 Schrödinger, Erwin, 259–260 relative motion, 129–130 Riemann, Behrhard Schwartz, John relativistic time, 214–215 (mathematician), 174 (physicist), 318 relativity. See also general Riemannian geometry, 174 Schwarzschild geometry, theory of relativity; Riess, Adam (scientist), 307 189, 192 special theory of Roemer, Olaus (astronomer), Schwarzschild, Karl (astro- relativity 98–99 physicist), 189, 192 Einstein’s papers on, Roentgen, Wilhelm Schwarzschild radius, 41, 43, 126, 129 (scientist), 236 192–194, 340, 341 electromagnetism and, Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Schwarzschild singulari- 126–130 (President), 10, 270, ties, 194 extended principle, 286–287 Schwinger, Julian Einstein’s, 129 Rosen, Nathan (scientist), (physicist), 311 Galileo and, 113–118 207, 265 science Lorentz-FitzGerald rotation, relative nature of, goals of, 327–328 contraction, 120 224 reconciling religion Poincaré and, 120–121 Royal Society of London, with, 323 of space and time, 131 150, 191 scientific method relativity, testing Rubbia, Carlo Einstein and, 327 description, 212–213 (physicist), 317 Galileo and, 59 GPS receivers, 220–221 Rubin, Vera (scientist), 305 second law of thermody- Gravity Probe A mission, Ruess, Ferdinand namics, 70, 72–74 216–217, 226 (teacher), 21 Shapiro, Irwin (physicist), Gravity Probe B mission, Rutherford, Ernest 218–219 211, 226–228 (scientist), 237–241, 271 shortening of space, 139–141 light time-delay effect, shrinkage of objects in 217–219 motion, 120 by NASA, 211, 216–217, • S • silk, transfer of electrons to, 226–228 Sachs, Alexander (banker), 83–84 religion 286–287 simultaneity, 136–137 classes, 22, 322, 323 Sagan, Carl (astronomer), 207 singularity, 203, 342 cosmic, 324 sailing, Einstein’s love of, Slipher, Vesto determinism and, 324, 325 9–10 (astronomer), 298 Einstein’s definition of Salam, Abdus (physicist), Small Magellanic Cloud, being religious, 322–323 316, 317 299, 300 Einstein’s idea of God, 324 Sandage, Allan Snyder, Hartland Judaism, 22, 322 (astronomer), 197 (physicist), 196 origin of, 324 satellite, launching, 165–166 solar eclipse, 178–179 reconciling science Saturn, rings of, 150 solar wind, 199 with, 323 scale, 156 Solovine, Maurice (friend of Remember icon, 4 scanning tunneling Einstein), 132, 156 microscope, 232–233 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 361

Index 361

Sommerfeld, Arnold Einstein’s thought stars (physicist), 174 experiments, 26 binary system, 306 sound, as wave, 107 limitations of, 163–164, 173 birth of, 200 space predictions, 213 black dwarf, 200 change with movement, seeing the past, 206 brightness, 300, 306–307 133, 139 uniform motion and, Cepheid, 300 electric field, 86–88 163–164 collapsing, 195–196 electromagnetic wave special theory of relativity, critical size, 191, 192 movement through, 96 implications of dark, 191–192 empty, 130, 307 dilating time, 137–138, 140, distances, 299–300 flat, 309–311 214–215, 217 escape velocity, 190–192 general theory of relativity Global Positioning Satellite geometry of spacetime and, 15 (GPS) receivers, 220 around, 189 relative nature of, inertial mass and, 150 interstellar travel, 145–146 131, 140–141 interstellar travel, 145–146 island universes, 299 shortening, 139–141 mixing space and time, neutron, 195–196, 198, 200, special theory of relativity 144–145 208, 341 and, 11–12 simultaneity, 136–137 parallax, 51, 299 warping of, 15 space shortening, 139–141 protostars, 200 Space Shuttle, 148–149, 212 spectrum, 104, 256–257, 342 red giant, 200, 341 Space Telescope Science speed of light supernova, 195, 200, Institute (NASA), 307 Einstein and, 130 306–307 spacetime E=mc2 equation and, variable, 299 absolute, 224 44, 150, 153 white dwarf, 195, 200, 342 curved, 177–178, 180, 197, in ether, 125 wind from, 199 222–228, 294 examples, 100 stationary orbits, 245–246 description, 12, 145, 342 Galileo’s experiments, 98 statistical mechanics, drag, 222–225 integrating laws of motion 69, 77–79 Einstein-Rosen bridge, 207 with, 119 strong nuclear force, 317, 318 five-dimensional, 314–315 Michelson-Morley subatomic particles, 14 four-dimensional, 174–175 experiment, 119, 124–126 sugar molecules, size of, geometry of, 187–189 Roemer’s experiments, 44–45 gravitational field and, 88 98–99 sun inside black holes, 203 special theory of relativity changes in spacetime mathematical origins and, 11–12 geometry by, 177, 179 of, 144 tests of, 217 eclipse, 178–179 singularity, 203 Spinoza, Benedict de energy of, 71 in two dimensions, 177 (philosopher), 326 escape velocity, 190 warping of, 177, 180, standard candle, 306–307 life of, 200 188–189 Stanford University, 222, 226 light time-delay effect and, sparks, 101 Star Trek, 268 218–219 special theory of relativity. Stark, Johannes (editor), warping of spacetime by, See also relativity 163 177, 180, 188 acceleration and, 143–144 The Starry Messenger (Galileo superatoms, 255 description, 11–12 Galilei), 60 superconductor, 227–228 development of, 126–134 supernova, 195, 200, 306–307 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 362

362 Einstein For Dummies

Supernova Cosmology thermal equilibrium, 70, 75 flow, direction of, 72–74 Project, 306 thermal radiation, 242–244 general theory of relativity superstring theory, 318, 342 thermocouples, 34 and, 181–185 surface tension, 278–279 thermodynamics gravity effect on, Swiss citizenship, 24 definition, 70, 342 184, 194, 208 symmetric operation, 316 first law, 70–72 interstellar travel, 145–146 The System of the World relationship to statistical relative nature of, (Pierre Simon de mechanics, 77–78 131, 139, 141 Laplace), 191 second law, 70, 72–74 simultaneity, 136–137 Szilard, Leo (physicist), 270, third law, 70, 74–75 slowing of, 194, 208, 286–288 zeroth law, 70, 75 214–217 thermonuclear bomb, 285 special theory of relativity thinking, Einstein’s definition and, 11–12 • T • of, 326 standing still, 145, 149 Talmud, Max (medical third law of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics student), 21, 326 70, 74–75 and, 77 Talmud, Bernard Thirring, Hans time travel, 78, 205–210 (physician), 23 (physicist), 222 timeline, Einstein’s life, Tanner, Hans (student of Thomson, J.J. (physicist), 343–347 Einstein), 159 236–237 Tip icon, 4 Technical Stuff icon, 4 Thomson, William (Lord Titan (moon of Saturn), teleportation, 268 Kelvin) (physicist), 74 150 telescope Thorne, Kip (scientist) Tomonaga, Sin-Itiro European Southern black holes, 201, 204 (physicist), 311 Observatory Very Large Black Holes and Time torsion balance, Telescope, 145 Warps, 201 Coulombs’, 87 Galileo and, 60 time travel, 206–209 Townes, Charles Hubble Space Telescope, thought experiment (inventor), 16 16, 148 on accelerated motion, trains, 116, 117 Mt. Palomar, 197 168–169 transmitter, radio, 102 x-ray, 199 on curved space, 292–293 transuranic elements, 276 Teller, Edward on dilating time, 137–138 Trinity College (Cambridge, (physicist), 287 Einstein and, 26, 168–171 England), 61 temperature EPR problem, 265–266 Trinity College (Dublin, absolute zero, 70, 74–75 Galileo Galilei, 59–61, 115 Ireland), 120 Cosmic Microwave on gravitational and inertial tritium, 285 Background (CMB), 309 mass, 170–171 Turner, Michael speed of molecules and, on simultaneity, 136–137 (scientist), 309 70, 74, 234 on space changes with The Two New Sciences thermal equilibrium, 70, 75 movement, 139 (Galileo Galilei), 57, 115 theoretical physicist, 9, 66 time Tycho (astronomer), 54–55 theory of colors, Newton’s, arrow, 70, 76–78 62, 104–106 change with movement, theory of fluxions, 133, 137–138, 139–140 • U • Newton’s, 65 curved, 296 Uhuru (satellite), 199 theory of metals, dilating, 137–138, 140, ultraviolet catastrophe, Drude’s, 233 194, 214–215, 217 38–39, 243 thermal energy, 249, 250 elasticity of, 121 unbalanced force, 62 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 363

Index 363

uncertainty principle, 13–14, University of Leyden, Vulcan (proposed 260–267, 313 120, 173 planet), 180 unification of physics, University of Michigan, 314–318 206, 268 unified field theory, University of Munich, • W • Einstein’s, 315, 317 242, 243, 255 W particle, 317 uniform motion University of Paris, 254 WAAS (wide-area augmenta- definition, 342 University of Pisa, 56, 57 tion system), 221 relativity and, 143, 163–164 University of Prague, 159 warping of spacetime, 177, rest equivalence to, University of Texas, 197 180, 188–189 116, 118 University of Utrecht, 173 Washington University, 214 universe University of Vienna, 173 wave closed, 297, 310 University of Washington, 312 definition, 342 curvature, 292–293 University of Zurich, 41, 45, light as, 108–110 de Sitter’s model of, 296 157–160, 173, 233 properties of, 107 edge, 290–292 uranium sound, 107 Einstein’s model of, 16, critical mass, 284–285 wave mechanics, 259–260 290–297, 303–305 Curie experiments with, 236 wavelength, 103–104, empty, 296 neutron bombardment 108–109, 248–251, 342 expanding, 16, 296–301, of, 276 waves of probability, 260 305–308 splitting, 276–278, 282 Weber, Heinrich (physics flat, 297, 309–311 x-rays and, 271 professor), 24, 27, 31–32, island, 299 Uranus, orbit of, 82 34–35, 123 laws of physics, unchanging Urey, Harold (scientist), 288 weight, 71, 147–148 nature of, 129 U.S. Federal Aviation Admin- weightlessness, 164–167 Newton’s model of, 67, 118, istration, 221 Weinberg, Steven (physicist), 289–290, 304 U.S. Naval Observatory, 214 316, 317 open, 297, 310 Weisskopf, Victor static, 295, 304 (physicist), 288 structure of, 298 •V • Weyl, Hermann (mathemati- two-dimensional, 291–293 van der Meer, Simon cian), 305, 314 University of Berlin, 9, 158, (physicist), 317 Wheeler, John 242, 277, 333 variable stars, 299 (physicist), 202 University of Bern, 132, 157, Veneziano, Gabriele white dwarf, 195, 200, 342 158, 331 (scientist), 318 white light, 106 University of California, Vessot, Robert (scientist), wide-area augmentation Berkeley, 195 216–217 system (WAAS), 221 University of Chicago, 282, Viking missions (NASA), 219 Wieman, Carl E. 284, 288, 309 virtual particle, 313, 342 (scientist), 255 University of Colorado, 255 viscosity, 44–45 Wigner, Eugene University of Dacca, 254 voltage, 101–102 (physicist), 286 University of Geneva, von Eötvös, Baron Roland Wilkinson Microwave 160, 338 (scientist), 170 Anisotropy Probe University of Göttingen, von Helmholtz, Hermann (WMAP), 309–311 196, 255 (physicist), 32, 242 wind, ether, 125 University of Heidelberg, 30 von Jolly, Philipp Winteler, Anna (friend of (professor), 242 Einstein), 25 33_583484 bindex.qxd 4/28/05 3:25 PM Page 364

364 Einstein For Dummies

Winteler, Jost (teacher), 25 worm hole, 207, 342 Yurtsever, Ulvi Winteler, Marie (first love of (scientist), 206 Einstein), 25, 28, 31, 338 Winteler, Paul (brother-in-law • X • of Einstein), 25, 331 x-ray telescope, 146, 199 • Z • Winteler, Pauline (friend of x-rays, 103, 236, 271 Z particle, 317 Einstein), 25 Zel’dovich, Yakov (physicist), Witelson, Sandra 199, 203–204, 313 (pathologist), 7 •Y • zero point energy, 75 WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Yang, C.N. (physicist), 316 zeroth law of Anisotropy Probe), Young, Thomas (scientist), thermodynamics, 70, 75 309–311 39, 71, 108–110, 192, Zwicky, Fritz (astronomer), work, energy and, 70, 147 260–261 195, 305