Albert Einstein

Annus Mirabilis

Refers to Albert Einstein's year of miraculous discoveries in 1905, including his theories of special relativity and the photoelectric effect.

Einstein Field Equations

A set of ten equations formulated by Albert Einstein as part of his general theory of relativity, describing how matter and energy influence the curvature of spacetime.

Photoelectric Effect

The phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a material when it absorbs light, which Einstein explained, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.

Mass-Energy Equivalence

The principle that mass and energy are interchangeable, expressed by the equation E=mc², formulated by Albert Einstein.

Quantum Entanglement

A quantum phenomenon where the states of two separate particles are interconnected, suggesting instantaneous communication, which Einstein referred to as 'spooky action at a distance'.

Length Contraction

A phenomenon predicted by special relativity where an object moving at a significant fraction of the speed of light is observed to be shorter in the direction of motion.

Time Dilation

The difference in elapsed time as measured by two observers, due to the relative speeds of their movement, a key prediction of Einstein's theory of relativity.

Cosmological Constant

A value introduced by Einstein into his field equations for general relativity that represents the energy density of space, later deemed his 'greatest blunder' when the universe was found to be expanding.

EPR Paradox

A thought experiment by Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen that questioned the completeness of quantum mechanics, demonstrating the phenomenon of quantum entanglement.

Equivalence Principle

The principle stating that inertial mass and gravitational mass are equivalent, a cornerstone of Einstein's general theory of relativity.