What Did Albert Einstein Invent

Undoubtedly, one of the most influential people in history, Albert Einstein was an American physicist renowned for his contributions in various aspects of science. An eminent physicist and a Nobel prize winner, Einstein is regarded as the Father of Modern Physics. Some of his prominent work includes the theory of relativity, prediction of the deflection of light by gravity, explaining planet Mercury's perihelion and the quantum theory of atomic motion in solids, etc. Even, those familiar with all these theories are bound to get confused, if asked, "What did Albert Einstein invent?". Einstein was a great physicist indeed and he was also involved in some inventions and discoveries directly, as well as indirectly.

What Did Albert Einstein Invent or Discover?
The difficulty in answering the intricate question, about, Albert Einstein's inventions can be attributed to the fact that Albert Einstein was a physicist, and not a scientist. Although, he has to his credit, the invention of Einstein refrigerator, he became more famous for his various theories which revolutionized science. Given below are some of the prominent accomplishments of Albert Einstein.

Photoelectric Effect
In 1905, Albert Einstein propounded the photoelectric effect, one of the earliest applications of quantum theory, wherein he stated that light is made up of discrete quanta, and not continuous waves. He further said that the energy in each of these quantum is proportional to the frequency of radiation. This was contradictory to the age-old theory about the wave nature of light energy. Not many people believed in this theory put forth, by Einstein, until about a decade later, when Robert Andrews Millikan, another American physicist, proved it through his experiments. These efforts by Einstein played a vital role in the development of quantum theory (quantum mechanics), and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for it, in 1921.

Theory of Relativity
The phrase 'theory of relativity', encompasses two theories propounded by Albert Einstein - theory of special relativity and theory of general relativity. Through his theory of special relativity, Einstein stated that

• The speed of light in vacuum is constant.
• The laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems.

This theory was followed by the theory of general relativity, which proposed that gravitational force is space-time, which curves in the presence of mass. One of the most famous formulas in the world of science, E=mc² was developed by Einstein to support his theory of relativity. This formula conveyed that energy is equal to the mass multiplied by the speed of light squared. It meant that a small mass can produce enormous amount of energy, if it is moving at a very fast pace (speed of light).

Role in the Development of Atomic Bomb
One of the most destructive inventions of the 19th century is the atomic bomb. Though, Einstein himself, didn't play an active role in the invention of this weapon of mass destruction, his theories about the relationship between mass and energy, as well as, the letter to the then President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, recommending the US government to develop the weapon, did play a significant role in the dreaded invention. His formula E=mc² was the driving force behind the development of the atom bomb, which shocked the world conscious during World War II. Einstein did describe his participation in the development of the atomic weapon as one of the biggest mistakes of his life, but it was too late by then.

Einstein Refrigerator
One of the lesser known Albert Einstein facts is the invention of a refrigerator by him. Einstein worked on it, along with his former student Leó Szilárd in 1926, and got it patented in 1930. It was an absorption refrigerator which only required a source of heat to operate. The refrigerator was later reconstructed by the scientists at Oxford University, and named as the Einstein refrigerator. Upon its reconstruction, Einstein refrigerator was ranked at the 31st position, in Time Magazine's Top 50 Best Inventions of 2008.

Those wanting to know what did Albert Einstein invent, should have got a good idea of his inventions from the article above. This Nobel prize winning physicist's published works and papers will help those who want more details about his work. Widely popular for his supreme intelligence, there remains little doubt that this man, and his work, have had a great impact on mankind.