Albert Einstein and the Atomic Bomb - 976 Words

ALBERT EINSTEIN and the ATOMIC BOMB The physicist Albert Einstein did not directly participate in the invention of the atomic bomb. But as we shall see, he was instrumental in facilitating its development. In 1905, as part of his Special Theory of Relativity, he made the intriguing point that a large amount of energy could be released from a small amount of matter. This was expressed by the equation E=mc2 (energy = mass times the speed of light squared). The atomic bomb would clearly illustrate this principle. But bombs were not what Einstein had in mind when he published this equation. Indeed, he considered himself to be a pacifist. In 1929, he publicly declared that if a war broke out he would unconditionally refuse to do war†¦show more content†¦But Bush and other leaders in the atomic bomb project excluded Einstein from any other a-bomb related work. Bush didnt trust Einstein to keep the project a secret: I am not at all sure... [Einstein] would not discuss it in a way that it should not be discussed. (Clark, pg. 684-685; G. Pascal Zachary, Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century, pg. 204). As the realization of nuclear weapons grew near, Einstein looked beyond the current war to future problems that such weapons could bring. He wrote to physicist Niels Bohr in December 1944, when the war is over, then there will be in all countries a pursuit of secret war preparations with technological means which will lead inevitably to preventative wars and to destruction even more terrible than the present destruction of life. (Clark, pg. 698). The atomic bombings of Japan occurred three months after the surrender of Germany, whose potential for creating a Nazi a-bomb had led Einstein to push for the development of an a-bomb for the Allies. Einstein withheld public comment on the atomic bombing of Japan until a year afterward. A short article on the front page of the New York Times contained his view: Prof. Albert Einstein... said that he was sure that President Roosevelt would have forbidden the atomic bombing of Hiroshima had he been alive and that it was probably carried out to end the Pacific warShow MoreRelatedThe Greatest Scientific Geniuses Of Albert Einstein972 Words   |  4 Pageshink of Albert Einstein, I picture the famous photo of a man with messy, gray hair sticking his tongue out at the photographers. He is not only famous by his image, but also known as the most famous physicist and one of the greatest scientific geniuses of all time. Albert Einstein was too genius, and his geniuses actually made it difficu lt for us to learn his political views. He was pacifist. 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You have read the letter Albert Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt in 1939 persuading the president to take action and build relationships with scientists who had discovered the use of uranium and creation of bombs. Who was Albert Einstein? Why should President Roosevelt have listened to what he had to say? If you search for more information on Albert Einstein, you will learn that it was very smart of Roosevelt to listen to this knowledgeableRead MoreAlbert Enstein1246 Words   |  5 PagesIntellectual Property †¢ History Bios †¢ †¢ Share †¢ Print Ads:    †¢ Albert Einstein    †¢ Inventors Help    †¢ Einstein Quotes    †¢ Patent Invention Idea    †¢ Example of Biography Albert Einstein - Biography [pic] By  Mary Bellis Photo: Albert Einstein Albert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. He enjoyed classical music and played the violin. 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His father Hermann Einstein, was a salesman and engineer who with his brother founded Elektrotechnische Fabrik J. Einstein Cie. A company that manufactured electrical equipment in Munich, Germany. His mother, the former Pauline Koch, ran the family household. Einstein had one sister Maja, whoRead MoreJustified or Unjustified: America Builds the First Nuclear Weapon883 Words   |  4 PagesOn August 2, 1938, in the heat of World War II, Albert Einstein, a physicist born in Germany, sent a letter to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States. The letter suggested America to build an atomic bomb before the Nazi Germany does. However, it took more than two months for the letter to reach Roosevelt. On October 19, 1938, Roosevelt agreed, replying, â€Å"I found this data of such import that I have convened a Board †¦ to thoroughly inv estigate the possibilities of yourRead MoreGood Vs. Evil : The Lord Of The Flies And Wwii1450 Words   |  6 Pagesin the Lord of the Flies, and Mr. Albert Einstein in WWII. In WWII there was significant amount of bloodshed; countries were willing to do whatever it would take to win the war. The U.S. as a result broke the â€Å"circle of civilization†, what is morally acceptable in society, to gain power over people, just like roger, by dropping the atomic bomb on Japan (Golding 62). William Golding also links WWII to the theme of knowledge by having piggy represent Mr. Einstein because he used knowledge for theRead MoreAlbert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879. He was born in the city of Ulm, Wurtemberg, Germany. He800 Words   |  4 Pages Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879. He was born in the city of Ulm, Wurtemberg, Germany. He was raised in a secular, middle class he was part of a Jewish family. His father was Hermann Einstein. His father was a salesman and engineer with his bother founded a company that made electrical equipment that was in Munich, Germany. The company was called Elektrotechnische is he Fabrik J. Einstein and Cie. Albert Einstein’s mother was Pauline Einstein, she ran the family household. Albert EinsteinRead MoreEssay on albert einstein718 Words   |  3 Pages ALBERT EINSTEIN Albert Einstein was born March 14, 1879 in Germany. His family owned a small business that manufactured electric machinery. The business failed and they left Germany. Albert was fifteen years old and he dropped out of school. When Albert was five when he received his first compass and he began to investigate the world. Little did he know that that compass would make him famous. By the age of ten he becomes so fascinated by the world of science he self-educates himself to learn