Einstein General Relativity Essay

It requires mass amounts of reason to be labeled as a “goat”. Not necessarily the animal that is seen on every farm around the country but one who is known as the greatest of all time. Not many people in this world can call themselves or be labeled as the greatest of all time. So, what does it take to be one of those very few known as a goat? Albert Einstein, a theoretical physicist, can be seen as a great example. With all the things that he has created, done, and achieved, he has secured a definite position as being considered a goat. With becoming a goat, comes flaws and problems. Once, when Einstein was speaking at the Sorbonne in the 1930s, he acknowledged a point of political conflict correlating directly with his studies. “If my relativity theory is verified, Germany will proclaim me as German… My theory is proved false… Germany will say that I am a jew” (Kinnes). If everything is proven right about his theory of relativity, he will have mass support, but if it fails, he will be identified as a Jew and could be in great danger. Throughout his lifetime Einstein faced these problems yet found a way to accomplish so much that others couldn’t. His life seemed to be a roller coaster filled with ups and downs but still had an outcome of great success with some of them consisting of: Creating general and special relativity, the photoelectric effect, exploring the unknown of science, and winning the Nobel Prize, which all contributes to his status of being a goat. For him to reach these accomplishments, Einstein had to experience many other events in his life.

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany. Shortly after though, due to his father’s business, his family moved to Munich, Germany. He grew up in a Jewish background with his father owning a company that made electrical equipment and his mother staying at home and running the household (Albert Einstein Biography). From a young age, he struggled in school with regular subjects and also a case of speech impediment. What didn’t help was that his father decided to move his family again because of work reasons to Milan, Italy where Einstein would barely finish his elementary years there. Growing up towards the age of 12 Einstein turned to religion and became quite religious. “... began to change, however, after he read science books that contradicted his religious beliefs” (Kaku). These books left lasting impressions on him and made him question his religious views. Due to this, science moved Einstein in a direction that would keep him moving for a long period. When approaching the age of serving in the military, Einstein sought removal and got a doctor’s note for having too much exhaustion to be removed from service. He then rejoined his family but was surrounded by concern for his motivation to continue his education. They questioned his future and watched his prospects slowly fade away. Soon enough though he discovered what would be stepping stones to his ultimate interest in science. He encountered a compass which would fill him with curiosity on how invisible forces could deflect the needle and he also came across a book of geometry or what he called the “holy geometry book” (Howell). After discovering this, his future education heavily focused on the subject of physics.

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Many people think that Einstein had a great, smooth educational career. In reality, it never went to the exact plan. He was exceptional in the subjects of physics and mathematics but lacked in every other area. At the age of sixteen, Einstein had very strong disagreements with his teachers and the way they taught which led him to always rebelling. He went on to drop out but would later apply to Swiss Federal Polytechnic School. As he took the entrance exam results once again showed that his mathematics and physics scores were astonishing but others such as French, chemistry, and biology were poor. Usually, the school wouldn’t accept one with such a major educational gap but because his math scores were exceptionally good, they accepted him. However, he faced a requirement in front of him to continue being that he must finish formal schooling to “close the gap” in knowledge for him (Howell). Therefore he attended high school in Aarau, Switzerland where he lived with the schoolmaster’s family and fell in love with their daughter Marie. During all of this Einstein claimed that these years were some of the best that he experienced due to his meeting lifelong friends with whom he could discuss different topics where everyone would understand him. One of them was a mathematician known as Marcel Grossmann and the other was Michele Besso where they would discuss the topics of space and time (Kaku). Einstein committed and denounced his German citizenship and became a Swiss citizen. From then on he was admitted to the Swiss Polytechnic in 1896 and would graduate with the ability to teach physics and math (Kaku). Even though he achieved his degree to teach these subjects, it was relatively hard for Einstein to find a teaching position.

Searching for a position anywhere to teach in a school, Einstein had very little luck. He then took up a job position as a patent clerk. “...During which time he produced several pioneering works in the field of physics” (Albert Einstein Biographical). One could call this tragic because Einstein went to school all for nothing not to teach at all. But in reality, this was considered a true miracle year of his scientific theories. Now that Einstein wasn’t so consumed in school and work, he had a lot of time to further explore his ideas of science that held him back at the school which would later be famously known as the theory of relativity (Albert Einstein Biography). Einstein during his years as a clerk had four papers published of his theories and ideas. Two of them focused on the photoelectric effect and Brownian motion while the others focused on the equation “E=MC2” and the theory of relativity (Albert Einstein Biography). To be more descriptive the first paper, “...Einstein applied the quantum theory to light to explain the photoelectric effect” (Kaku). In the next paper, Einstein analyzed the motion of particles put in water also known as the Brownian motion to calculate the size of the atoms (Kaku). The third paper focused on the “Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies” where he proposed the base idea of relativity (Kaku). The final paper proposed the equation known as “E=MC2” which was identified as the “...first mechanism to explain the energy source of the sun and other stars” (Kaku). Reflecting on all these papers, it is quite impressive that Einstein produced all of this while working as a clerk doing something that wasn’t even intended. The miracle year can truly be seen as a blessing because of how the four papers laid a clear foundation of what accomplishments were to come his way.

Now that Einstein lived through his childhood, some tough years, and his miracle year, the only logical assumption to make is all the accomplishments that were going to approach him. To truly prove that he is a goat, is to see how many accomplishments came his way. Going through some of his career highlights, Einstein’s work was validated when Sir Arthur Eddington, secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society decided to go on an expedition to Africa to calculate the position of stars during a total solar eclipse. Eddington used Einstein’s ideas and their results paralleled well with it. That the position of stars was shifted due to the bending of light around the sun (Howell). Another fascinating highlight in his career was when Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel after World War II because he was the “...leading figure in the World Government Movement” (Albert Einstein Biographical). Einstein was even given the opportunity in his life to write a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt informing him about Uranium and the possible use of it with atomic bombs by the Nazis (Albert Einstein Biography). The most famous accomplishment though for Einstein would most likely be the prestigious award he achieved known as the Nobel Prize. He won this award in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect although it wasn’t given to him until the following year because of a bureaucratic ruling (Albert Einstein Biography). Throughout all of this, famously known quantum theorist Max Planck showed his undivided support to Einstein and believed in him when many didn’t. This is very encouraging for Einstein because many people respected Planck and aspired to be like him, meaning they would support Einstein also. Even another highlight that can be seen in his life is how courageous he was to dig deeper into the unknown of science and not get offended by error.

Einstein throughout his life never had it fairly easy especially politically. Over time, Einstein had to overcome many political conflicts in his life that would also portray the goat status that he has. “Einstein’s political leanings further complicated people’s responses to his work” (Panek). Many people were rather confused about Einstein’s political views, but then saw that everything he did was not only better for him, but what he was trying to accomplish. At the time when the Nazis were rising to popularity in Germany, Einstein’s work was also. Because Einstein came from a Jewish background, all the Nazis labeled his work as “Jewish physics” (Kaku). They had sponsored conferences that would include book burnings of Einstein’s work to denounce his theories all because of his background in life. More and more over time Einstein felt threatened and was even publicly stated as “not yet hanged” (Kaku). This ultimately pushed the limits for him and caused him to permanently move to America to seek safety. Not only did he make the definite trip but other European scientists left due to them feeling threatened by Germany also (Albert Einstein Biography). Another reason for the departure from Germany was because of the talks of atomic bomb creation by the Nazis. Einstein had to leave and inform America of their actions which he later on did. When Einstein came to America he didn’t just stop and give up after reaching safety, he settled in Princeton, New Jersey at the Institute of Advanced Study where many physicists gathered. Even according to newspaper articles, “...pope of physics had left Germany and that Princeton had become the new Vatican” (Kaku). Einstein's arrival in America inspired other physicists to migrate over and learn from each other which added more to the goat status.

To answer the question of what it takes to be a goat, simply, just be like Albert Einstein. There may be others to be inspired by but Einstein shows true heart and dedication with everything he does to be a goat. Never stop learning, thinking, and creating. Never hold back on conflicts in the path and approach them with logic. Most importantly, never take anything for granted and work with what is available. Einstein did all of the above and it resulted in winning one of the most prestigious awards known, being able to write to the President, and even being offered the presidency by a different country. Albert Einstein can be seen as a true goat because he has influenced many people in society today with not only his mentality but also his work and ideas. Now today, so many people aspire to be him and look forward to reaching the same accomplishments and goals he has made or even passing him and setting the bar higher. Without Einstein, no one would even realize that time is relative, that light bends around objects, know about the photoelectric effect, but best of all, that there is even a species known as a goat.