Questions About Einstein: His Life and Universe

by Walter Isaacson (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (6)

Zunaira Giggles This book makes you appreciate the universe and peace in a way that I think is often blind sighted by the hyper-informed society we live in with vario…moreThis book makes you appreciate the universe and peace in a way that I think is often blind sighted by the hyper-informed society we live in with various constant news media channels highlighting every incident as if it is the end of humanity.(less)

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I am really excited to read about a great person that has big effect on the world and science field. And change many of math, physics concepts. What do you think the different between normal person and Albert Einstein ?

Vanessa Ferlaino Curiousity, something we lose touch with as we get older, and patience - not needing to get an answer right away, and letting answers come to you.

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What is the difference between Einstein's General and Special Theories of Relativity?

Jonathan Wood Special relativity describes the mathematical relation between different reference frames that are moving at a constant velocity relative to each othe…moreSpecial relativity describes the mathematical relation between different reference frames that are moving at a constant velocity relative to each other. An object has a constant velocity when it moves at a constant speed in a straight line (i. e. no speeding up, slowing down, or turning). Reference frames moving at constant velocities are called inertia reference frames. Special relativity is based on the postulates that the speed of light is a constant regardless of which reference frame one is in and that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames.

The general theory of relativity is a more complete theory that relates non-inertial and inertial reference frames to each other. A non-inertial reference frame is a reference frame moving with some acceleration (speeding up, slowing down, and/or turning) and considers the force of gravity. The special theory of relativity is a "special" case of general relativity as in if both reference frames you are looking at are non-inertial the mathematics of general relativity reduces to special relativity.

Special relativity was developed first by Einstein. The general theory with more complicated mathematics took about a decade after that to be discovered by Einstein.

The special theory is known for combining space in time into 4 dimensions and as a consequence of it Einstein discovered that time and space is not a constant between different inertial reference frames. What Einstein found was time dilation and space contraction, as in moving clocks tick slower than stationary clocks and moving sticks are shorter are shorter then stationary stick. The closer to the speed of light the other reference frame is moving the greater the time dilation and length contraction.

The general theory of relativity is responsible for physicists knowing how mass results in the curvature of space, as in the curvature of space tells mass how to move and space tells mass how to curve.

Hope this helps. (less)

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Is this book suitable for a 10-year old boy?

Reader I read it at 11. It was a challenge but not impossible.

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How could someone who was purported to be a genius, be such a terrible father?

Aayush Kucheria Not everyone is perfect at everything, nor can he be.
You can't expect a perfect father to also be a genius in studies.…moreNot everyone is perfect at everything, nor can he be.
You can't expect a perfect father to also be a genius in studies.(less)

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