The Practical Einstein
Experiments, Patents, Inventions
Published on 26. June 2012
Book
Hardback
216 pages
978-1-4214-0457-8 (ISBN)
Description
Albert Einstein may be best known as the wire-haired whacky physicist who gave us the theory of relativity, but that's just one facet of this genius' contribution to human knowledge and modern science. As Jozsef Illy expertly shows in this book, Einstein had an eminently practical side as well. As a youth, Einstein was an inveterate tinkerer in the electrical supply factory his father and uncle owned and operated. His first paid job was as a patent examiner. Later in life, Einstein contributed to many inventions, including refrigerators, microphones, and instruments for aviation. In published papers, Einstein often provided ways to test his theories and fundamental problems of the scientific community of his times. He delved deeply into a variety of technological innovations, most notably the gyrocompass, and consulted for industry in patent cases and on other legal matters. Einstein also provided explanations for common and mundane phenomena, such as the meandering of rivers. In these and other hands-on examples culled from the Einstein Papers, Illy demonstrates how Einstein enjoyed leaving the abstract world of theories to wrestle with the problems of everyday life.
While we may like the idea of Einstein as a genius besotted by extra dimensions and too out-of-this-world to wear socks, "The Practical Einstein" gives ample evidence that this characterization is both incomplete and an unfair representation of a man who sought to explore the intricacies of nature, whether in theory or in practice.
While we may like the idea of Einstein as a genius besotted by extra dimensions and too out-of-this-world to wear socks, "The Practical Einstein" gives ample evidence that this characterization is both incomplete and an unfair representation of a man who sought to explore the intricacies of nature, whether in theory or in practice.
Reviews / Votes
A lesser-known aspect of Einstein's incredible contribution to understanding the physical universe and human creations makes up the subject of this fascinating book... In this compact, readable account, one discovers Einstein's practical interests that lay beyond his seminal work in relativity and quantum physics... Highly recommended. Choice One turns to Jozsef Illy's lovely little book on Einstein the experimenter and inventor... With a lean and matter-of-fact prose, he takes us through a long history of such things as Einstein's many expert opinions on everything from gyrocompasses and pile drivers to an 'electrophonic piano' and a makeup mirror. We learn about Einstein's own inventions, ranging from an airfoil and a refrigerator to an altimeter and a light-intensity self-adjusting camera. The book concludes with the most complete history ever written of Einstein's work for the US Navy during World War II on magnetic-influence proximity fuses for torpedoes. -- Don Howard Physics Today Einstein's papers reveal a down-to-earth side. Learn about his inventions and ideas, including waterproof breathable clothes and an explanation for rivers' meanderings. Science News A must for any Einstein historian and refreshing reading for anyone interested in the meanderings of a great scientist, The Practical Einstein is a special book. Enjoy! -- Adriana Palffy Contemporary Physics This short but well-documented book is not a radical evaluation, but an engaging one. It suggests a more human and more 'hands-on' Einstein than the popular myth, and perhaps a better role model: his career of mixed productivity, eclectic interests, consulting work and brief enthusiasms may be recognizable to more than a few contemporary scientists. -- Sean Johnston British Journal for the History of ScienceMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Baltimore, MD
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
6 s/w Zeichnungen, 66 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder
66 Halftones, black and white; 6 Line drawings, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
408 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4214-0457-8 (9781421404578)
DOI
10.1353/book.13595
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
10/2013
Johns Hopkins University Press
€44.80
Article not available at the moment
E-Book
06/2012
Johns Hopkins University Press
€28.49
Available for download
Person
Jozsef Illy is a visiting senior editor with the Einstein Papers Project and a visiting associate in history at the California Institute of Technology. He is the editor of Albert Meets America: How Journalists Treated Genius during Einstein's 1921 Travels, also published by Johns Hopkins.
Content
Preface
Introduction
1. Musings
The Flettner Ship
Why Do Rivers Meander?
2. Experiments
Michelson, Morley, and Eoetvoes Reinvented
The Mass of the Electron
Ampere's Molecular Currents
The Velocity of Gas Reactions
A Geodynamo Model?
Light: Waves or Particles?
Explaining Superconductivity
3. Expert Opinions
The Patent Office
Gyrocompasses
Mixing Tubes
Hebeluftschiff
Tungsten Wires for Incandescent Lamps
Triodes for Amplification
Sound Direction Ranging in Air and Water
Prospecting for Ore and Water from a Dirigible
Riveting Hammers and Pile Drivers
Production of High-Pressure Gases
"Electrophonic Piano"
Aerial Stereophotography
Magnetic Cores with Low Electric Conductivity
Telescope for Daylight Observations of Phenomena near the Sun
Makeup Mirror
Balanced Tapered Bearing Rollers
4. Europe an Inventions
The "Little Machine" (Maschinchen)
Planimeter
The Cat's Back Airfoil
Compasses for Land, Sea, and Air
Filtering Viruses
Refrigerators in a Row
Magnetostrictive Reproduction of Sound
Hearing Aid
5. American Inventions
Altimeter
Waterproof Breathable Clothes
Heat-Insulating Vessel
Liquid Filtering by Electrostatic Method
Automatic Correction of Measured Data
Airplane Horizon Indicator
Electrostatic Microphone
Fluid-Level Indicator
Light-Intensity Self-Adjusting Camera
Steel-Tape Recording
Aircraft Speedometer
Timer
On the Threshold of the Manhattan Project
Torpedoman Einstein
Notes
Index
Introduction
1. Musings
The Flettner Ship
Why Do Rivers Meander?
2. Experiments
Michelson, Morley, and Eoetvoes Reinvented
The Mass of the Electron
Ampere's Molecular Currents
The Velocity of Gas Reactions
A Geodynamo Model?
Light: Waves or Particles?
Explaining Superconductivity
3. Expert Opinions
The Patent Office
Gyrocompasses
Mixing Tubes
Hebeluftschiff
Tungsten Wires for Incandescent Lamps
Triodes for Amplification
Sound Direction Ranging in Air and Water
Prospecting for Ore and Water from a Dirigible
Riveting Hammers and Pile Drivers
Production of High-Pressure Gases
"Electrophonic Piano"
Aerial Stereophotography
Magnetic Cores with Low Electric Conductivity
Telescope for Daylight Observations of Phenomena near the Sun
Makeup Mirror
Balanced Tapered Bearing Rollers
4. Europe an Inventions
The "Little Machine" (Maschinchen)
Planimeter
The Cat's Back Airfoil
Compasses for Land, Sea, and Air
Filtering Viruses
Refrigerators in a Row
Magnetostrictive Reproduction of Sound
Hearing Aid
5. American Inventions
Altimeter
Waterproof Breathable Clothes
Heat-Insulating Vessel
Liquid Filtering by Electrostatic Method
Automatic Correction of Measured Data
Airplane Horizon Indicator
Electrostatic Microphone
Fluid-Level Indicator
Light-Intensity Self-Adjusting Camera
Steel-Tape Recording
Aircraft Speedometer
Timer
On the Threshold of the Manhattan Project
Torpedoman Einstein
Notes
Index