Books — 780 | Art, antiques & jewelry. Part 2
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory of relativity, but he also made important contributions to the development of the theory of quantum mechanics. Relativity and quantum mechanics are together the two pillars of modern physics. His mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2, which arises from relativity theory, has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation". His work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect", a pivotal step in the development of quantum theory. His intellectual achievements and originality resulted in "Einstein" becoming synonymous with "genius".
Max Planck, full name Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck, is a German theoretical physicist and the founder of quantum theory, which won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.
Planck made many discoveries in theoretical physics, but his quantum theory revolutionized our understanding of atomic and subatomic processes, just as Albert Einstein's theory of relativity revolutionized our understanding of space and time. Together they represent the fundamental theories of 20th-century physics. They forced humanity to reconsider some philosophical beliefs and began to be applied to industry, including the military, affecting all aspects of modern human life.
Planck was one of the first scientists to realize the importance of Einstein's special theory of relativity, and his influence played a crucial role in its acceptance in Germany. As dean of the University of Berlin, he personally visited Einstein in Zurich in 1913 to persuade him to move to Berlin, which became his base for the next 20 years. Einstein's 1905 work on the photoelectric effect (for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize) is based on Planck's constant (h), the fundamental unit of quantum theory.
