The practical Einstein: experiments, patents, inventions

Abstract

Albert 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, had an eminently practical side as well. As a youth, 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, contributed to many inventions, including refrigerators, microphones, and instruments for aviation. In published papers, 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. also provided explanations for common and mundane phenomena, such as the meandering of rivers. In these and other hands-on examples culled from the Papers, Illy demonstrates how enjoyed leaving the abstract world of theories to wrestle with the problems of everyday life. While we may like the idea of 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.