How Did Einstein Fare In High School?
Einstein’s Education According to popular lore, Albert Einstein was a poor student. It is true that he did not earn top grades in every subject, but he excelled at math and science, even though he skipped classes and had to cram for exams.
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Contents
- 1 How did the Einstein fare at the Munich school?
- 2 How did Einstein spend his days as a high school student in Munich?
- 3 Why did Albert Einstein leave the school at the age of 15?
- 4 Why did Einstein not like his school at Munich?
- 5 Why was Einstein not considered a genius in his early years?
- 6 Was Einstein ever expelled from school?
- 7 What kind of a student was Einstein?
- 8 How did Einstein react to strict discipline in school Munich?
- 9 Why did Einstein consider his school and his quarters at Munich a hateful place?
- 10 What did Albert Einstein do in Munich?
How did the Einstein fare at the Munich school?
A Truly Beautiful Mind Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type – Question 1. In what ways was Albert Einstein was an unusual child. How? He was different from others in many ways. Do you think that those who think differently succeed in their life like Einstein? Comment.
- Answer: Albert Einstein was an unusual child.
- He did not have any indication of his greatness.
- He had a larger than usual head.
- His mother thought him to be a freak.
- He was a late talker, and when he started to speak, he said everything twice.
- According to historian, Otto Neugebauer, the young Albert broke his silence at the supper table one night to say, “The soup is too hot.” Greatly relieved, his parents asked why he had never said a word before.
Albert replied, “Because up to now everything was in order.” He liked to play by himself and did not enjoy the company of his playmates, who, in turn, called him ‘Brother Boring’. He had special interest in mechanical toys. At school, his headmaster thought that he was a useless fellow and would never succeed in his life.
But he proved all the speculations wrong. Question 2. Write a short note on Einstein’s education from school to university. Did he show signs of genius intose early years? Answer: As a young boy, Einstein did not show any signs of genius. In fact, his headmaster had a very poor opinion about him and he even informed Einstein’s father that his son would never amount to much in life as he wouldn’t make a success in any career that he chose.
However, as he grew up and joined a school in Munich, he showed appreciable progress in studies scoring good marks in almost all the subjects. But the strict discipline of the school was not to his liking. As a result, he had frequent clashes with his teachers.
- Being a person of liberal ideas, he felt so suffocated that he ultimately left that school for good.
- He chose to complete his studies in a school in Switzerland where the environment was more liberal as compared to Munich.
- Highly gifted in mathematics and having a great interest in Physics, Einstein joined the university in Zurich after completing school and from here he graduated in 1900.
Question 3. Einstein succeeded in his professional life but failed miserably in his personal life. Why could Einstein not balance his family and professional life? Answer: At the university in Zurich, Einstein met Mileva Marie. Einstein saw in Mileva Marie, a fellow student at the Zurich University, an ally against the “Philistines”- those people in his family and at the university who did not like art, literature or music with whom he was constantly at odds.
In addition, she was intelligent and he found her to be a “clever creature”. Both fell in love and decided to marry. They married a few years later, in 1903, as his mother had at first opposed his marriage to Mileva. In 1905, Einstein he published his paper on special theory of relativity, followed by the world famous equation E = me 2,
In 1915, he published his paper on General Theory of Relativity, which gave an absolutely new definition to concept of gravity This theory made him a famous figure, In 1919, during the solar eclipse, his theory came out to be accurate and revolutionized physics.
While Einstein was solving the most difficult problems in physics, his private life was running into problems. Mileva’s intellectual ambition was disappearing. They became an unhappy couple as they fought continuously. Finally, they got divorced in 1919. Albert Einstein succeeded in his professional life but did not have a happy married life.
However, the same year Einstein married his cousin, Elsa. Question 4. What was Einstein’s contribution to the knowledge of science? Which values in his character made him a ‘global citizen’? Answer: Albert Einstein worked on his ideas about relativity and in 1905, he published his ‘Special Theory of Relativity’, according to which time and distance are not absolute.
His theory about the relationship between mass and energy was developed into the famous formula E = me 2, and this equation made him a renowned scientist. Einstein earned international acclaim with the publication of his General Theory of Relativity which enabled him to calculate in advance the extent of the deflection of light from fixed stars as it passed through the gravitational field of the sun.
The theory was declared as “a scientific revolution” by the newspapers. For his contribution to the development of science, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. After this, a number of honours were bestowed upon him. He was against arms build-up.
He advocated, peace and democracy in the world. He did not want that his invention should be misused. He thought of humanity, of world peace and democracy. All these values in his character made him a global citizen. Question 5. Einstein wrote two letters – to President Roosevelt and to the United Nations.
Did his letters have the desired impact? Justify your answer. Answer: In 1939, Einstein wrote a letter to the American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt warning him that the atomic bomb if made and used by Germany, could not only destroy the whole port on which it could be dropped, but also the territory surrounding it.
- The impact of the letter was immediate as the Americans at once developed their own atomic bombs in a secret project.
- These bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in 1945, and as anticipated by Einstein, these bombs caused terrible destruction.
- The large scale damage caused by the bombing of Japan perturbed Einstein so much that he wrote a letter to the United Nations.
In this letter he proposed that there should be a world government. This would put an end to the enmity between nations and hence stop wars. This letter did not have any impact.
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How did Einstein spend his days as a high school student in Munich?
He pestered/troubled his teachers with questions that they were not able to answer and made his classmates feel jealous of his genius. Einstein’s honesty is mistaken for arrogance. He is punished and told that he is a disgrace to the school. Einstein thus felt miserable at school and longed to escape.
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Why did Einstein play by himself in his childhood?
Q1. What did Einstein’s mother think him to be? Why? Ans.
Einstein’s mother thought him to be a ‘ freak ‘ or someone with an unusual physical abnormality or behavioural problem. She thought of him as a freak because his head seemed too large to her. This made him look different from the other children of his age.
Q2. Einstein showed no early signs of his genius one day. Comment. Ans:
As a child, Einstein had a large head and did not start to speak till he was two-and-a-half years old. Even when he did start speaking he uttered everything twice. He did not interact well with other children, and always played alone. All this showed the absence of genius.
Q3. What did Einstein’s playmates call him? Why? Ans:
Einstein’s playmates called him ‘Brother Boring ‘ as he could not mix up with other children. Neither did he find their games interesting nor did he know how to interact with other children. Also, he did not talk till he was two-and-a-half years old, and even then he repeated each word twice. This made his company boring to his playmates.
Q4. What did Einstein campaign for after he got involved in politics?
After getting involved in politics, Einstein made earnest efforts for world peace and harmony. He campaigned against the race for armaments and supported the cause of peace and democracy.
Q5. Why does the world remember Einstein as a “world citizen”?
The world remembers Einstein as a world citizen because, towards the latter part of his life, he strived for the peace and well-being of the entire world and not just his own country. He was no longer solely a scientific genius but a visionary as well, who felt that the solution to enmity between countries was a world government.
Q6. What kind of toys attracted the attention of Einstein when he was a child? Why?
Einstein could not enjoy the company of playmates because of his introverted nature, Instead, as a child, he was attracted only by mechanical toys. It showed his scientific temperament since mechanical toys work on some kind of scientific principles.
Q7. Why did Einstein try to look for wheels on the body of his newly born sister?
Einstein was much too interested in mechanical toys and had scientific inclinations. When his sister was born, he thought her to be a new toy ; that is why he tried to search for wheels on her body.
Q8. What was the opinion of the school headmaster about Einstein?
The school headmaster considered Einstein to be a good-for-nothing boy, He was of the opinion that Einstein would never succeed in any profession. Therefore, the choice of profession would not make any difference in the results of his efforts.
Q9. Which musical instrument did Einstein begin to learn? Why?
Einstein began to learn to play the violin at the young age of six. He kept this interest alive throughout his life and became a gifted amateur violinist. He began learning the violin because his mother wanted him to.
Q10. How did Einstein perform in various subjects while studying in Munich?
Although as a young child, Einstein was very slow, still while studying in Munich, he showed great progress in almost all the subjects and scored very good marks. He showed a special interest in Physics and Mathematics,
Q11. Why did Einstein leave school in Munich?
Einstein left the school in Munich because of the stifling environment that suppressed his scientifically curious mind. The excessively stern discipline and rigid rules in that school led to frequent clashes with his teachers. He thus began to feel that such a place was inappropriate for a liberal person like him.
Q12. Why did Einstein shift to Switzerland to continue his education?
Einstein shifted to the German-speaking part of Switzerland to continue his education because he had left his school in Munich midway. This new place was more liberal than Munich and Einstein’s curious and free temperament got a favourable environment over here.
Q13. Why did Einstein see an ally in Mileva Maric?
Einstein saw an ally in his Serbian fellow student Mileva Maric because, like him, she too was against philistines – the people who have disregard for art and culture. As both shared similar tastes, Einstein developed a liking for her and they both fell in love.
Q14. What did Einstein call his desk drawer at the patent office? Why?
Einstein jokingly called his desk drawer at the patent office as “Bureau of theoretical physics”. He did so because his office job required him to assess the inventions of other people while he secretly developed his own ideas regarding his keen interest in Physics.
Q15. Why did Einstein’s mother does not want him to marry Mileva? There were two reasons for Einstein’s mother not wanting him to marry Mileva:
Firstly, the girl was three years older than Einstein.Secondly, she was much too intelligent – ‘a book’ just like him, in his mother’s opinion.
Q16. Why did Einstein’s marriage with Mileva not survive long?
Although Einstein and Mileva had been in love, still their marriage did not survive long because Mileva gradually lost her intellectual vigour and aspirations. She became a frustrated housewife, There were frequent scuffles between the couple which resulted in their ultimate divorce in 1919,
Q17. What was the new personal chapter in Einstein’s life? How did it coincide with his fame? OR “Einstein’s new personal chapter coincided with his rise to world fame”. What new personal chapter in Einstein’s life is the author talking about here?
The new personal chapter in Einstein’s life was his marriage to his cousin Elsa in the year 1919 immediately after his divorce from Mileva. This chapter coincided with his rise to world fame when his paper on General Theory of Relativity, published in 1915, was found to be accurate due to the proof that came through the eclipse of the sun in 1919,
Q18. When and for what did Einstein gain international fame?
Einstein gained international fame when his paper on General Theory of Relativity was found to be accurate in 1919, As per this theory, the calculations made by Einstein in advance about the deflection of light in the solar gravitational field during the eclipse were proven true. This theory was treated as “a scientific revolution.”
Q19. How was Einstein honoured for his achievements?
Honours came pouring in for Einstein after his theories proved him to be a scientist with exceptional abilities. He was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921, Honours and invitations were conferred on him from all over the world. The newspapers too applauded his genius.
Q20. Why did Einstein leave Germany and emigrate to America?
Einstein had always been a lover of freedom and liberal ideas. The Nazi government, which came to power in 1933, was very suppressive and autocratic. Therefore, Einstein left Germany and emigrated to America.
Q21. Why did the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin disturb the American physicists? OR ‘The discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists in an uproar”. Why? The American physicists were disturbed by the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin because they were afraid that Germany would make an atom bomb and use it for destructive purposes,
Einstein wrote to the American president, Roosevelt, because he wanted to forewarn him regarding the massive destructive power of the atom bomb which the Germans were expected to build after the discovery of nuclear fission. If dropped on a port, the bomb could destroy the whole port as well as the area around it.
Q23. What was the effect of Einstein’s letter on Roosevelt?
The warning sounded by Einstein in his letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt about how dangerous an atom bomb made by Germans’ could be, had a lightening effect on the Americans. They at once rose to action and secretly developed an atom bomb of their own.
Q24. How did Einstein react to the bombing of the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki by America?
Einstein was completely shaken by the immense destruction caused due to the bombing of the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki by America, As a reaction to this tragic event, he wrote a letter to the United Nations proposing the establishment of a world government that could counter such fierce enmity among nations.
Q25. During his childhood, Einstein did not show any traces of becoming a genius one day. How?
As a child, Einstein had a large head and did not start to speak till he was two-and-a-half years old. Finally, when he did speak, he used to utter everything twice. He could not interact freely with his playmates either. All this showed the absence of any traces in him of becoming a genius one day.
Q26. Why did Einstein’s playmates call him “Brother Boring”? OR Why did Einstein play all alone when he was a child?
Einstein did not know what to do with other children. His shy and introverted nature made his company boring to his playmates. So, they teased him as “Brother Boring” and did not include him in their games. herefore, he played all alone when he was a child.
The document Short Answer Type Questions: A Truly Beautiful Mind | English Class 9 is a part of the Class 9 Course English Class 9, All you need of Class 9 at this link: Class 9
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Why did Albert Einstein leave the school at the age of 15?
Einstein left the school in Munich because he did not like the discipline of the school. He hated the schools regimentation and often clashed with teachers.
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Why did Einstein not like his school at Munich?
Dileep Vishwakarma. Answer: (i) Albert Einstein left the school in Munich because he hated the school’s strict and controlled environment, and often had disagreements with his teachers. (ii) According to Einstein, Switzerland was more liberal than Munich. Hence, he wanted to study in Switzerland.
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Why was Einstein uncomfortable with his school at Munich?
Updated On: 27-06-2022. Albert Einstein left his school in Munich because he was not happy with the education system and he felt stifled by the strict regimentation of the school. He felt the environment suppressed his inquisitive scientific mind and had frequent clashes with his teachers.
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At what age did Einstein not learn to speak?
Einstein, a certified genius, was also a late talker (according to some biographers). He didn’t speak full sentences until he was 5 years old.
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Why did Einstein consider his school and his quarters at Munich a hateful place?
A. Short Answer Type Questions – Question 1: Why was Mr Braun speechless for a few moments? Answer: Mr Braun asked Albert in which year the Prussians defeated the French at Waterloo. Albert told him that he didn’t know. Mr Braun said that he had told them so many times.
- Albert told him that he saw no point in learning dates.
- These could be seen in books.
- This made him speechless.
- Question 2: Who asks for the Einstein theory of education? How? Answer: Mr Braun, the History teacher asks for Einstein theory of education.
- He does so highly sarcastically and in a mocking tone.
Question 3: What is Einstein’s view about education? How far do you agree with it? Answer: For Einstein ideas are important and facts do not matter. He considers learning the dates of battles or the details about victorious armies meaningless. He is more interested in the causes that led the soldiers to kill each other.
Question 4: How did the history teacher react to Albert’s replies? Will a modern student agree with the teacher? Why /Why not? Answer: The history teacher felt amazed as well as annoyed at Albert’s stubbornness. It was because Albert challenged all the established norms of attaining knowledge. Modem students do not agree with the history teacher’s view.
Education is not a mere acquisition of certain facts and their verbatim reproduction. Question 5: Why did Albert see no point in learning dates and facts? Answer: Dates and facts are parts of knowledge which are content based. Albert thought that there was no point in learning dates and facts because firstly, these could be, ascertained from the books any time by just looking them up.
Secondly, for him, learning facts was not education. Question 6: Do you think Albert is being impolite while answering the history teacher’s questions? Give your reasons. Answer: No, Albert is not at all impolite. He addresses his teacher respectfully. Secondly, he answers the questions honestly. He does not think that his free and frank opinion will annoy the teacher and will be construed as impoliteness.
Question 7: What was the history teacher’s opinion of Albert? Answer: The history teacher had a very low opinion of Albert. He called Albert an ungrateful boy who ought to be ashamed of himself. He suggested that Albert should ask his father to take him away from school.
- Question 8: What punishment did the history teacher give to Albert for not answering his questions? Answer: This history teacher’s eyes got cold and cruel.
- He said he didn’t want a lecture from him.
- He punished Albert by making him stay in for an extra period that day.
- He told him that he was a disgrace.
Moreover, he didn’t know why he continued to come. Question 9: Why did Albert feel miserable when he left school that day? Answer: Albert was punished for his ‘insolence’ that day He had to stay in for an extra period after the school that day. Albert felt miserable because he hated the school and would have to return there the next day as well.
- Question 10: ‘Going back to his lodgings did not cheer him up.’Why? Answer: He lived in an atmosphere of slum violence.
- His landlady beat her children regularly.
- Every Saturday her husband came drunk and beat her.
- The wailing and howling of kids got on his nerves.
- He couldn’t stand the incessant loud noise Question 11: What did Albert conclude after six months alone in Munich? What reasons did he advance? Answer: After six months alone in Munich, Albert concluded that he must get away from there.
He thought it absurd to go on like that. He realised that he had been wasting his father’s money and everyone’s time. So he considered it better for all to stop just then. Question 12: Why does the biographer refer to Albert’s interest in music as a ‘comfort’? Answer: Albert’s lodgings as well as school made him feel miserable.
He hated the school. Going to the lodging didn’t cheer him up as he hated the atmosphere of slum violence. He soothed him tired nerves by playing on his violin. So music was a source of comfort for him. Question 13: Who is Elsa? What does she think is enough to pass the examination? Answer: Elsa is Albert’s cousin.
She normally lives in Berlin where her father has a business. She thinks that one can pass the examination simply by learning things by heart and repeating them in the exams. A student doesn’t have to understand what he is taught. Question 14: What sudden idea does Albert hit upon to get away from school? Answer: Albert thought that if he had a nervous breakdown and a doctor certified that it was bad for him to go to school, he would be able to get away from the school.
This would be better than leaving the school and then forced back to it by his father. Question 15: Who is Yuri? What part does he play in Albert’s plan? Answer: Yuri is a senior student, perhaps of medical school. He knows a lot of medical students. It is he who introduces Albert to Dr Ernest Weil and helps further Albert’s plan by getting him medical certificate he desires so earnestly.
Question 16: “Ugh!” Exclaimed Albert, “these are the students”. Comment. Answer: Yuri lived among poor students. Albert thought them ‘civilised human beings’. Yuri told him that one of the students killed another in a duel and felt proud of it. At this Albert was filled with disgust because he hated violence.
- Question 17: Yuri calls Albert ‘the world’s worst liar’—do you think this is an insult or a compliment to Albert? Why? Answer: It is a compliment, Albert is honest and truthful.
- He can’t tell a deliberate lie.
- He can’t deceive anyone.
- He is so simple hearted that if he tries to tell a lie, his face betrays him at once.
Question 18: Why was Albert quite nervous when he met the doctor? What does this nervousness indicate about his nature? Answer: Albert had been wondering all day what to tell the doctor. In fact, he had worried so much that when the time came to see the doctor he was quite nervous.
His nervousness shows that he had a very sensitive nature. Even a minor worry would ruffle him up. Question 19: How did Albert hope to convince the doctor? Answer: Albert declared humorously that he was going to have a real nervous breakdown. It would make it easier for the doctor to certify his illness.
The next time Yuri saw Albert he found that the latter had lost his high spirits. Albert confirmed that he would really have a nervous breakdown which would satisfy any doctor. Question 20: Who was Ernest Weil? How did he help Albert? Answer: Ernest Weil was a doctor.
- He had qualified as a doctor only the previous week.
- He was a good friend of Yuri.
- Albert told Yuri of his plan to leave school.
- Yuri told him to go to Dr Ernest Weil to get a medical certificate for the purpose.
- Question 21: What advice did Yuri give to Albert before meeting Dr Ernest Weil? Answer: Yuri told Albert not to deceive Dr Ernest Weil.
He should tell everything clearly. He should be frank with him. He shouldn’t pretend that he had got what he hadn’t. Question 22: What opinion do you form of Dr Ernest Weil? Answer: Young Ernest Weil had just qualified to be a doctor, but he was intelligent.
- He could not be deceived easily.
- He was frank, honest and sympathetic.
- He wins the confidence of his patient with his warm smile.
- His sharp analytical mind helps him in quick diagnosis and suggesting cure.
- Question 23: What did Albert tell Dr Ernest Weil if he certified that he had a nervous breakdown? Answer: Albert told him that he would go to Milan in Italy.
His parents lived there. Dr. Weil asked him what he would do there. Albert told him that he would try to get admission into an Italian College or Institute. Question 24: How, according to Yuri, could the medical certificate help Albert? Answer: Yuri thought that the medical certificate would help Albert to enjoy six month’s leave from the school.
He would not actually be leaving the school and if the worst befell, he could return and continue studies for the diploma. Question 25: How did Albert hope to get admission to an Italian college without a diploma from the German school? Answer: Albert hoped to get a testimonial from his mathematics teacher about his work.
He had learnt all the maths that is taught at school and a bit more. He hoped that this certificate would help him to get admission to an Italian college without a diploma from the German school. Question 26: What did Mr Koch think of Albert? Answer: Mr Koch had a high opinion of Albert.
He thought that he couldn’t teach Albert any more and probably soft he would be able to teach his teacher. Mr Koch certified that Albert was ready immediately to enter a college or institute for the study of higher mathematics. Question 27: What did Yuri suggest to Albert before seeking an interview with the Principal? How far did Yuri’s efforts and suggestion prove useful during Albert’s meeting with the Principal? Answer: Yuri suggested that Albert should get a written reference from the mathematics teacher before seeing the head teacher.
His mathematics teacher gave him a glowing reference. However, it failed to serve the purpose for which Albert wanted to use it. Question 28: What reference did Mr Koch give to Albert regarding his wish to join a college in Italy? Answer: Mr Koch wrote that Albert was ready to enter a college for the study of higher mathematics.
He also said that he couldn’t teach him any more and probably he (Albert) would soon be able to teach him. Question 29: What did the head teacher tell Albert when he met him? Answer: The head teacher told him that his work was terrible. He was not prepared to have him in the school any longer. He wanted him to leave the school then.
Question 30: What did the head teacher tell Albert when the latter asked him what ‘crime’ he had committed? Answer: The head teacher told Albert that his presence in the class made it impossible for the teacher to teach. It was also impossible for the other pupils to learn.
He refused to learn and rebelled constantly. No serious work could be done while he was there. Question 31: “Albert felt the medical certificate almost burning a hole in his pocket.” What does the author mean? Answer: Einstein was eager to show the medical certificate to the head teacher and notice how he reacted.
However, the certificate had now become unnecessary, because the head teacher had decided to expel Albert. Question 32: How did Albert leave his school where he had spent five years? Answer: Albert left his school without any regrets. He, in fact, left it arrogantly.
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Why was Einstein not considered a genius in his early years?
Albert Einstein: a brain we can’t explain When Albert Einstein died in April 1955, he had rather immodestly left his brain for medical science. Seven hours after his death, Dr Thomas Harvey, the Princeton pathologist, was dissecting it. After pickling it in formalin, Harvey cut this unprepossessing object into 240 blocks the size of sugar cubes.
Soon there were sighs of disappointment from neurologists throughout the US, eagerly awaiting the results of these researches. Microscopy had revealed nothing extraordinary about this amazing man’s intellectual powers. The bottle containing bits of brain was placed on a shelf where it gathered dust. More than 20 years later, the bits were found in Wichita, Kansas in two bottles marked “Costa Cider”.
How they got there, how they were decanted into a jar marked “mayonnaise”, and how investigations disappointed subsequent researchers throughout the 1980s is beyond my scope here. But the eagerness with which thousands of scientists wanted to know about Einstein’s brain tells us about his unique contribution to knowledge.
Einstein was not an obviously gifted child. He didn’t speak until nearly three, was ponderous physically and slow in answering questions, poor at languages and a failure at school. Only at 16 did he show some aptitude for mathematics and science. There was nothing to indicate that this loner was to become the leading scientist of the age, possibly the greatest genius since Isaac Newton, born more than two centuries earlier.
Now he is considered one of the greatest physicists of all time. Newton had invented calculus, and identified laws of motion and mechanics and a universal theory of gravitation. But in establishing the complex foundations of modern physics – special relativity, quantum mechanics and a new theory of gravity – Einstein saw the limits of Newton’s thinking.
Yet he wrote generously in 1927: “The 200th anniversary of the death of Newton falls at this time. One’s thoughts cannot but turn to this shining spirit, who pointed out, as none before or after him did, the path of western thought and research he deserves our deepest veneration.” Among many other ideas, Einstein’s considered the properties of light.
He recognised that stars shed mass by emitting light, calculating that the mass of a body is a measure of its energy content, “E = mc2”. His breakthroughs changed physics, leading to nuclear energy and the bomb. His crowning idea was general relativity, which predicts surprising effects of gravity on light, and led, among other things, to our understanding of black holes.
Einstein understood that light was emitted not merely in rays but as particles called photons. Thus, many years later, the optical laser was developed. Used in microscopes, eye and abdominal surgery, nuclear fusion, CDs and DVDs, supermarket bar-code readers, gene-sequencing machines, telecommunications and measurement of distances, it is just one example of his influence on modern technology and how one of his original concepts has so many applications now.
One thing intrigues me about this violin-playing genius. Was he autistic? He seemed poor at expressing emotions. He communicated poorly as a child, and his use of language was late. His family relationships were bad and he treated his first wife appallingly.
Long before their final separation, he wrote: “You will stop talking to me if I request it.” Things were little better with his second wife, Elsa. Yet Einstein’s good sense of humour argues against autism; perhaps the fact that extensive scientific studies of his brain posthumously provide no insight into his psychology might provoke him to chuckle.
Lord Winston is the professor of science and society and emeritus professor of fertility studies at Imperial College, London : Albert Einstein: a brain we can’t explain
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What did Albert Einstein do when he was 5 years old?
About – Albert Einstein was an incredibly clever man with a very enquiring mind. Most people would agree that he remains the most famous and talented scientist ever to have lived. All those discoveries he made years ago still help us understand our universe and the events that happen in it today.
Einstein showed great promise from an early age – although he apparently wasn’t keen on school! At just 5 years old he became intrigued by a compass his father had bought him, trying to work out just why the needle always pointed north. Einstein got a job checking out other people’s inventions because he couldn’t find work as a teacher but at the same time he was working on his own scientific ideas.
He came up with some amazing theories about light, matter, gravity, space, and time. The group of papers he wrote while working at the Patent Office in Bern showed just what a great scientific thinker Einstein was. He discovered new ways to work out the size of molecules, explained how particles move and made new discoveries about light,
- Einstein probably remains most famous for his ‘ theory of relativity’ and perhaps the most famous mathematical equation ever written, E = mc² – which means Energy (e) equals mass (m) times the speed of light, squared (c²).
- His theory is even difficult for grown-ups to fully understand! But the equation shows that mass (the amount of stuff in something!) can be turned into energy and vice versa.
Because the speed of light squared is such a huge number, it means that even a small amount of mass can be turned into a huge amount of energy! In 1921, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Albert Einstein died at the age of 76 from heart failure on 18 April 1955.
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Why could Einstein not balance his family and professional life?
A Truly Beautiful Mind Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type – Question 1. Albert Einstein was an unusual child. How? He was different from others in many ways. Do you think that those who think differently succeed in their life like Einstein? Comment.
Answer: Albert Einstein was an unusual child. He did not have any indication of his greatness. He had a larger than usual head. His mother thought him to be a freak. He was a late talker. When he started to speak, he said everything twice. He liked to play by himself and did not enjoy the company of his playmates.
They used to call him ‘Brother Boring’, tie had special interest in mechanical toys. At school, his headmaster thought that he was a useless fellow and would never succeed in his life. But he proved all the speculations wrong. Yes, it is true that a person who thinks differently has more creative ideas.
He looks at the things from a different angle. If Albert Einstein had been a normal student, he would not have been a great scientist. Question 2. Einstein succeeded in his professional life but failed miserably in his personal life. Do you think that family life is more important than the professional life? How can one make both personal and professional life happy? Why could Einstein not balance his family and professional life? Answer: At the university in Zurich, Einstein met Mileva Marie.
Both fell in love and decided to marry. They married after a few years. Mileva was equally ambitious and intelligent. She realised that her intellectual ambition was disappearing. They became an unhappy couple as they fought continuously. Finally, they got divorced in 1919.
- Albert Einstein succeeded in his professional life but did not have a happy married life.
- Both Einstein and Mileva were genious, ambitious and successful in their professional life.
- But thqy lacked personal bond as they were too busy in their professional work to think about their families.
- One needs to understand one another.
One has to respect and recognise the work of the another. All the differences should be resolved amicably. Einstein and Mileva could not balance their personal life because of their professional differences. Question 3. Why did Albert Einstein leave the school at the age of fifteen? Do you think a liberal environment in the school helps in learning in a better way? Answer: Albert Einstein was quite good at studies and scored good marks in almost all the subjects.
He went to a high school in Munich. He was never comfortable in the school. He did not like the strict discipline in the school. He had constant confrontation with his teachers. His headmaster thought that he would never succeed in his life. He could not adjust himself in the school and left it at the age of 15 years.
Einstein left his formal school because he felt suffocated due to strict discipline at the school. He felt that he was not given an opportunity to think and work according to his own wish. He needed a liberal environment where he could think freely. He succeeded at the university of Zurich where the environment was more liberal.
One learns more when one is allowed to learn according to one’s capacity. Better learning takes place when the environment in the school is liberal and student-friendly. Question 4. Why was Albert Einstein called ‘Brother Boring’? Do you also think so? How do you avoid to be called ‘Brother Boring’ in your school or at home? Answer: Albert Einstein used to play with mechanical toys.
He never made up with his friends. That is why he was called ‘Brother Boring’. No, I don’t think so. He was an introvert whose likings were different from those’ of his friends. I feel due to being a scientific genius he was not able to cope up with his classmates.
He had different interests and did not take interest in his class-fellows. He found that they did not have scientific aptitude. It made him an introvert. I also have different interests but I am not introvert. I play with my class fellows and take interest in their activities too. It brings us closer. We share our joy and happiness.
When it is my time, I entertain myself with my own taste and interests. This helps me in mixing up with everyone, I am differnet from others but still not Brother Boring. Question 5. Why do you think, Einstein’s personal life, was not happy? According to you, what was the main reason for their unhappy married life? Do you think it is a common problem nowadays? Answer: Einstein developed a special interest in a fellow student Mileva Marie.
- He wanted to marry her but their families did not agree.
- However, later they married.
- Both were intelligent and ambitious.
- They had two sons.
- But after some time their professional ambitions disturbed their family life.
- Perhaps their interests clashed.
- Their family life, unfortunately, was not successful.
After many years of differences and constant fighting they finally got divorced. I think their professional rivalry was the main reason for their troubled family life. Yes, nowadays professional rivalry, personal differences, ambition and conflicts come in the way of a happy married life of a couple.
- Question 6.
- Einstein was deeply shaken by the extent of the destruction.
- What kind of destruction had shaken Einstein ? Was he a true scientist? Answer: Einstein was a genius.
- His contribution to science is unparallelled.
- Einstein was a great visionary.
- He was against arms build-up.
- He advocated peace and democracy in the world.
In 1938, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin made him very upset. He was afraid that his invention might be misused. The Americans misused it and made an atomic bomb. The atom bomb was used in the World War. Two cities of Japan were bombed in August 1945.
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Was Albert Einstein rebellious at school?
Albert Einstein: Rebellious Wunderkind Childhood and Schooldays: Albert Einstein, and the family members seemed to have exaggerated the story of Albert who developed slowly, learned to talk late, and whose parents thought he was abnormal. These and other stories were adopted by biographers as if they really happened in the form that Albert and his sister told them.
- Hence biographers were inspired by them to create a mythical public image of Albert Einstein.
- Albert had tendency toward temper tantrums, the young impudent rebel Einstein had an impulsive and upright nature.
- He rebelled against authority and refused to learn by rote.
- He could not easily bring himself to study what did not interest him at school, especially humanistic subjects.
And so his sister told the story that his Greek professor, to whom he once submitted an especially poor paper, went so far in his anger to declare that nothing would ever become of him. Albert learned subjects in advance when it came to sciences; and during the vacation of a few months from school, Albert independently worked his way through the entire prospective Gymnasium syllabus.
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Why did Albert feel miserable when he left school that day?
Solution: Albert was punished for ‘brazenness’ that day. He had to stay home for an extra hour after school that day. Albert hated school and he had to go back to school the next day too, which made him feel miserable.
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Was Einstein ever expelled from school?
Albert Einstein’s early life – Born in Ulm, Germany in 1879, Einstein was brought up in Munich. His parents were of Jewish German ancestry, and his father ran an electrical equipment plant. He did not speak fluently until after he was nine and was considered slow.
Though his grades were fair in high school, he was eventually expelled for his rebellious nature. Always an individual, he traveled around before re-enrolling and completing school in his new home in Zurich, Switzerland. After graduating from high school, Einstein enrolled in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, where he studied the works of classical physicists.
By 1900 he graduated with a teaching degree and three years later married his college sweetheart, Mileva Maric. Unable to find a teaching job he tutored high school students until beginning work at the Swiss Patent Office. His job at the patent office allowed much time for independent work and it was during these seven years that he made his most important discoveries.
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What kind of a student was Einstein?
Einstein’s Education According to popular lore, Albert Einstein was a poor student. It is true that he did not earn top grades in every subject, but he excelled at math and science, even though he skipped classes and had to cram for exams.
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Why did Einstein wish to continue his education in German?
What did Einstein want to continue his education in German-speaking Switzerland? – After prolonged discussion, Einstein got his wish to continue his education in German-speaking Switzerland, in a city which was more liberal than Munich.6. Einstein was highly gifted in mathematics and interested in physics, and after finishing school, he decided to study at a university in Zurich.
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Why did Einstein say I Cannot see any point in learning dates?
A. Short Answer Type Questions – Question 1: Why was Mr Braun speechless for a few moments? Answer: Mr Braun asked Albert in which year the Prussians defeated the French at Waterloo. Albert told him that he didn’t know. Mr Braun said that he had told them so many times.
- Albert told him that he saw no point in learning dates.
- These could be seen in books.
- This made him speechless.
- Question 2: Who asks for the Einstein theory of education? How? Answer: Mr Braun, the History teacher asks for Einstein theory of education.
- He does so highly sarcastically and in a mocking tone.’ Question 3: What is Einstein’s view about education? How far do you agree with it? Answer: For Einstein ideas are important and facts do not matter.
He considers learning the dates of battles or the details about victorious armies meaningless. He is more interested in the causes that led the soldiers to kill each other. Question 4: How did the history teacher react to Albert’s replies? Will a modern student agree with the teacher? Why /Why not? Answer: The history teacher felt amazed as well as annoyed at Albert’s stubbornness.
- It was because Albert challenged all the established norms of attaining knowledge.
- Modem students do not agree with the history teacher’s view.
- Education is not a mere acquisition of certain facts and their verbatim reproduction.
- Question 5: Why did Albert see no point in learning dates and facts? Answer: Dates and facts are parts of knowledge which are content based.
Albert thought that there was no point in learning dates and facts because firstly, these could be, ascertained from the books any time by just looking them up. Secondly, for him, learning facts was not education. Question 6: Do you think Albert is being impolite while answering the history teacher’s questions? Give your reasons.
Answer: No, Albert is not at all impolite. He addresses his teacher respectfully. Secondly, he answers the questions honestly. He does not think that his free and frank opinion will annoy the teacher and will be construed as impoliteness. Question 7: What was the history teacher’s opinion of Albert? Answer: The history teacher had a very low opinion of Albert.
He called Albert an ungrateful boy who ought to be ashamed of himself. He suggested that Albert should ask his father to take him away from school. Question 8: What punishment did the history teacher give to Albert for not answering his questions? Answer: This history teacher’s eyes got cold and cruel.
- He said he didn’t want a lecture from him.
- He punished Albert by making him stay in for an extra period that day.
- He told him that he was a disgrace.
- Moreover, he didn’t know why he continued to come.
- Question 9: Why did Albert feel miserable when he left school that day? Answer: Albert was punished for his ‘insolence’ that day He had to stay in for an extra period after the school that day.
Albert felt miserable because he hated the school and would have to return there the next day as well. Question 10: ‘Going back to his lodgings did not cheer him up.’Why? Answer: He lived in an atmosphere of slum violence. His landlady beat her children regularly.
- Every Saturday her husband came drunk and beat her.
- The wailing and howling of kids got on his nerves.
- He couldn’t stand the incessant loud noise Question 11: What did Albert conclude after six months alone in Munich? What reasons did he advance? Answer: After six months alone in Munich, Albert concluded that he must get away from there.
He thought it absurd to go on like that. He realised that he had been wasting his father’s money and everyone’s time. So he considered it better for all to stop just then. Question 12: Why does the biographer refer to Albert’s interest in music as a ‘comfort’? Answer: Albert’s lodgings as well as school made him feel miserable.
He hated the school. Going to the lodging didn’t cheer him up as he hated the atmosphere of slum violence. He soothed him tired nerves by playing on his violin. So music was a source of comfort for him. Question 13: Who is Elsa? What does she think is enough to pass the examination? Answer: Elsa is Albert’s cousin.
She normally lives in Berlin where her father has a business. She thinks that one can pass the examination simply by learning things by heart and repeating them in the exams. A student doesn’t have to understand what he is taught. Question 14: What sudden idea does Albert hit upon to get away from school? Answer: Albert thought that if he had a nervous breakdown and a doctor certified that it was bad for him to go to school, he would be able to get away from the school.
- This would be better than leaving the school and then forced back to it by his father.
- Question 15: Who is Yuri? What part does he play in Albert’s plan? Answer: Yuri is a senior student, perhaps of medical school.
- He knows a lot of medical students.
- It is he who introduces Albert to Dr Ernest Weil and helps further Albert’s plan by getting him medical certificate he desires so earnestly.
Question 16: “Ugh!” Exclaimed Albert, “these are the students”. Comment. Answer: Yuri lived among poor students. Albert thought them ‘civilised human beings’. Yuri told him that one of the students killed another in a duel and felt proud of it. At this Albert was filled with disgust because he hated violence.
- Question 17: Yuri calls Albert ‘the world’s worst liar’—do you think this is an insult or a compliment to Albert? Why? Answer: It is a compliment, Albert is honest and truthful.
- He can’t tell a deliberate lie.
- He can’t deceive anyone.
- He is so simple hearted that if he tries to tell a lie, his face betrays him at once.
Question 18: Why was Albert quite nervous when he met the doctor? What does this nervousness indicate about his nature? Answer: Albert had been wondering all day what to tell the doctor. In fact, he had worried so much that when the time came to see the doctor he was quite nervous.
- His nervousness shows that he had a very sensitive nature.
- Even a minor worry would ruffle him up.
- Question 19: How did Albert hope to convince the doctor? Answer: Albert declared humorously that he was going to have a real nervous breakdown.
- It would make it easier for the doctor to certify his illness.
The next time Yuri saw Albert he found that the latter had lost his high spirits. Albert confirmed that he would really have a nervous breakdown which would satisfy any doctor. Question 20: Who was Ernest Weil? How did he help Albert? Answer: Ernest Weil was a doctor.
He had qualified as a doctor only the previous week. He was a good friend of Yuri. Albert told Yuri of his plan to leave school. Yuri told him to go to Dr Ernest Weil to get a medical certificate for the purpose. Question 21: What advice did Yuri give to Albert before meeting Dr Ernest Weil? Answer: Yuri told Albert not to deceive Dr Ernest Weil.
He should tell everything clearly. He should be frank with him. He shouldn’t pretend that he had got what he hadn’t. Question 22: What opinion do you form of Dr Ernest Weil? Answer: Young Ernest Weil had just qualified to be a doctor, but he was intelligent.
He could not be deceived easily. He was frank, honest and sympathetic. He wins the confidence of his patient with his warm smile. His sharp analytical mind helps him in quick diagnosis and suggesting cure. Question 23: What did Albert tell Dr Ernest Weil if he certified that he had a nervous breakdown? Answer: Albert told him that he would go to Milan in Italy.
His parents lived there. Dr. Weil asked him what he would do there. Albert told him that he would try to get admission into an Italian College or Institute. Question 24: How, according to Yuri, could the medical certificate help Albert? Answer: Yuri thought that the medical certificate would help Albert to enjoy six month’s leave from the school.
He would not actually be leaving the school and if the worst befell, he could return and continue studies for the diploma. Question 25: How did Albert hope to get admission to an Italian college without a diploma from the German school? Answer: Albert hoped to get a testimonial from his mathematics teacher about his work.
He had learnt all the maths that is taught at school and a bit more. He hoped that this certificate would help him to get admission to an Italian college without a diploma from the German school. Question 26: What did Mr Koch think of Albert? Answer: Mr Koch had a high opinion of Albert.
- He thought that he couldn’t teach Albert any more and probably soft he would be able to teach his teacher.
- Mr Koch certified that Albert was ready immediately to enter a college or institute for the study of higher mathematics.
- Question 27: What did Yuri suggest to Albert before seeking an interview with the Principal? How far did Yuri’s efforts and suggestion prove useful during Albert’s meeting with the Principal? Answer: Yuri suggested that Albert should get a written reference from the mathematics teacher before seeing the head teacher.
His mathematics teacher gave him a glowing reference. However, it failed to serve the purpose for which Albert wanted to use it. Question 28: What reference did Mr Koch give to Albert regarding his wish to join a college in Italy? Answer: Mr Koch wrote that Albert was ready to enter a college for the study of higher mathematics.
He also said that he couldn’t teach him any more and probably he (Albert) would soon be able to teach him. Question 29: What did the head teacher tell Albert when he met him? Answer: The head teacher told him that his work was terrible. He was not prepared to have him in the school any longer. He wanted him to leave the school then.
Question 30: What did the head teacher tell Albert when the latter asked him what ‘crime’ he had committed? Answer: The head teacher told Albert that his presence in the class made it impossible for the teacher to teach. It was also impossible for the other pupils to learn.
He refused to learn and rebelled constantly. No serious work could be done while he was there. Question 31: “Albert felt the medical certificate almost burning a hole in his pocket.” What does the author mean? Answer: Einstein was eager to show the medical certificate to the head teacher and notice how he reacted.
However, the certificate had now become unnecessary, because the head teacher had decided to expel Albert. Question 32: How did Albert leave his school where he had spent five years? Answer: Albert left his school without any regrets. He, in fact, left it arrogantly.
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How can you say that Einstein was a gifted child?
Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany on March 14, 1879. Popular legend indicates that he was a slow learner, learning to speak much later than average. Elementary school records show he was a gifted child, particularly in maths, physics, and violin playing.
- He rebelled against formal education by rote learning and was expelled at the age of 15 (reputedly just before he dropped out).
- His family moved to Italy, mainly for business reasons.
- Einstein renounced his German citizenship and went to live with family in Italy and later, Switzerland.
- He studied at the renowned Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (then the Polytechnic).
He failed the entrance exam first time, possibly because of difficulties with the French language. He missed many lectures, preferring self-directed study, but passed the final exams after a short period of intense ‘learning’; reportedly cramming from the notes of a friend.
Two years later in 1902, he began steady employment as a patent officer (technical expert third class) in Berne. Held this position for seven years. The freedom from financial worries gave him time to think about problems in physics. He had limited contact with other physicists and little contact with academia.
In 1905, while still employed as a patent officer, he was awarded his Ph.D. in physics and published a number of papers that changed the thinking about physics. This year is often referred to as the annus mirabilis. The first of the papers was on the Quantum Theory of Light, including an explanation of the photoelectric effect for which he was awarded the Nobel prize for 1921.
- The second paper was a statistical paper on Brownian motion, a proof for the existence of atoms.
- Other papers documented his reasoning on special relativity, which led to the famous equation E = mc2.
- His work on generalizing the theory led to the general relativity paper, which was published in 1916.
- Einstein lived in Berlin during World War I and publicly expressed dissatisfaction with German militarism.
He suggested that warfare be abolished and an international organization be set up to mediate between nations. In 1919, general relativity principles were supported by observations of a solar eclipse. Einstein became a celebrity. In 1922, Einstein published his first paper on the Unified Field Theory.
The quest for a law combining all the known forces occupied his scientific attention until his death. He was keen to find an alternative to quantum mechanics, which described everything in terms of probabilities. His famous quote, “God does not play dice” reflects this quest. While visiting the US in 1933, Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany.
Einstein publicly criticized the racial and political policies of Hitler, resigned his position at the University of Berlin, and vowed never to return to Germany. He then accepted a research position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
- In 1939, Einstein wrote his famous letter to President Roosevelt pointing out the possibilities of a nuclear bomb.
- An ardent pacifist, he was prompted to do this by several prominent scientists and the thought that Hitler would develop such a bomb first.
- In actuality, the first bomb fell on Japan after the fall of Germany in the war.
In 1946, he became chairman of the Emergency Committee for Atomic Scientists. The FBI kept a file on his political activities from 1932 until his death. Einstein was a compassionate man with deep regard for his fellow humans and a love of children. He believed that humanity needed to create a moral order if it was to survive.
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Why was the Einstein living in the poorest quarters of Munich?
Einstein lived in a rented room in one of the poorest quarters of Munich. He did not like the place because of the atmosphere of slum violence.
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Who did Einstein fare in high school?
Although as a young child Einstein was very slow, still while studying in Munich, he showed great progress in almost all the subjects and scored very good marks in almost all the subjects. He had a special interest in Maths and Physics. Later on, he became a great scientist.
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How did Einstein react to strict discipline in school Munich?
Part 1 – Question 1: Who had these opinions about Einstein? (i) He was boring. (ii) He was stupid and would never succeed in life. (iii) He was a freak. Answer: (i) Einstein’s playmates found him boring. (ii) Einstein’s teacher thought that he was stupid and would never succeed in life.
- Iii) Einstein’s mother thought that he was a freak because he behaved abnormally.
- Question 2: Explain what the reasons for the following are.
- I) Einstein leaving the school in Munich for good.
- Ii) Einstein wanting to study in Switzerland rather than in Munich.
- Iii) Einstein seeing in Mileva an ally.
(iv) What do these tell you about Einstein? Answer: (i) Einstein hated the regimented environment of his school in Munich. He always argued with his teachers. His mind was not made for the normal strict and disciplined environment of a school. That is why he left school to enjoy his independence.
- Ii) Switzerland was more liberal than Munich.
- Einstein must have hoped to find a less stifling environment in Switzerland compared to that in Munich.
- So he wanted to study in Switzerland.
- Iii) Mileva was just opposite to Enstein’s parents.
- Unlike them she used to appreciate arts and finer things of life.
Her mindset matched with that of Einstein. So, Einstein saw a friend in Mileva. (iv) These snippets from Einstein’s life gives an idea about the extraordinary thinking power Einstein was having since his childhood, because only a person with above normal intelligence can think beyond the accepted systems of behaviour and actions.
- Enistein always liked to take his own decisions which is evident from his insistence on leaving Munich for a better future.3.
- What did Einstein call his desk drawer at the patent office? Why? Answer: It is not mentioned in the passage, but it can be safely assumed that most of the applications for patent were of minor tweaking of older scientific theories and practices.
This is the prevalent practice even today. Really original and innovative ideas rarely come on a routine basis. Moreover, as Einstein was himself a genius he could see the follies in patent applications as most of them must be of pure theoretical value with no resultant benefit for the mankind.
- That is why Einstein called his desk, ‘the bureau of theoretical physics.
- Question 4: Why did Einstein write a letter to Franklin Roosevelt? Answer: From the passage it is not clear if Einstein wanted the US to stop Nazis from making the bomb or wanted to encourage the US to make a bomb to utilize its destruction potential.
The end result was the US made the nuclear bomb and used it against Japan. This led to large scale destruction and loss of lives in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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Why did Einstein consider his school and his quarters at Munich a hateful place?
A. Short Answer Type Questions – Question 1: Why was Mr Braun speechless for a few moments? Answer: Mr Braun asked Albert in which year the Prussians defeated the French at Waterloo. Albert told him that he didn’t know. Mr Braun said that he had told them so many times.
- Albert told him that he saw no point in learning dates.
- These could be seen in books.
- This made him speechless.
- Question 2: Who asks for the Einstein theory of education? How? Answer: Mr Braun, the History teacher asks for Einstein theory of education.
- He does so highly sarcastically and in a mocking tone.
Question 3: What is Einstein’s view about education? How far do you agree with it? Answer: For Einstein ideas are important and facts do not matter. He considers learning the dates of battles or the details about victorious armies meaningless. He is more interested in the causes that led the soldiers to kill each other.
- Question 4: How did the history teacher react to Albert’s replies? Will a modern student agree with the teacher? Why /Why not? Answer: The history teacher felt amazed as well as annoyed at Albert’s stubbornness.
- It was because Albert challenged all the established norms of attaining knowledge.
- Modem students do not agree with the history teacher’s view.
Education is not a mere acquisition of certain facts and their verbatim reproduction. Question 5: Why did Albert see no point in learning dates and facts? Answer: Dates and facts are parts of knowledge which are content based. Albert thought that there was no point in learning dates and facts because firstly, these could be, ascertained from the books any time by just looking them up.
- Secondly, for him, learning facts was not education.
- Question 6: Do you think Albert is being impolite while answering the history teacher’s questions? Give your reasons.
- Answer: No, Albert is not at all impolite.
- He addresses his teacher respectfully.
- Secondly, he answers the questions honestly.
- He does not think that his free and frank opinion will annoy the teacher and will be construed as impoliteness.
Question 7: What was the history teacher’s opinion of Albert? Answer: The history teacher had a very low opinion of Albert. He called Albert an ungrateful boy who ought to be ashamed of himself. He suggested that Albert should ask his father to take him away from school.
- Question 8: What punishment did the history teacher give to Albert for not answering his questions? Answer: This history teacher’s eyes got cold and cruel.
- He said he didn’t want a lecture from him.
- He punished Albert by making him stay in for an extra period that day.
- He told him that he was a disgrace.
Moreover, he didn’t know why he continued to come. Question 9: Why did Albert feel miserable when he left school that day? Answer: Albert was punished for his ‘insolence’ that day He had to stay in for an extra period after the school that day. Albert felt miserable because he hated the school and would have to return there the next day as well.
Question 10: ‘Going back to his lodgings did not cheer him up.’Why? Answer: He lived in an atmosphere of slum violence. His landlady beat her children regularly. Every Saturday her husband came drunk and beat her. The wailing and howling of kids got on his nerves. He couldn’t stand the incessant loud noise Question 11: What did Albert conclude after six months alone in Munich? What reasons did he advance? Answer: After six months alone in Munich, Albert concluded that he must get away from there.
He thought it absurd to go on like that. He realised that he had been wasting his father’s money and everyone’s time. So he considered it better for all to stop just then. Question 12: Why does the biographer refer to Albert’s interest in music as a ‘comfort’? Answer: Albert’s lodgings as well as school made him feel miserable.
He hated the school. Going to the lodging didn’t cheer him up as he hated the atmosphere of slum violence. He soothed him tired nerves by playing on his violin. So music was a source of comfort for him. Question 13: Who is Elsa? What does she think is enough to pass the examination? Answer: Elsa is Albert’s cousin.
She normally lives in Berlin where her father has a business. She thinks that one can pass the examination simply by learning things by heart and repeating them in the exams. A student doesn’t have to understand what he is taught. Question 14: What sudden idea does Albert hit upon to get away from school? Answer: Albert thought that if he had a nervous breakdown and a doctor certified that it was bad for him to go to school, he would be able to get away from the school.
This would be better than leaving the school and then forced back to it by his father. Question 15: Who is Yuri? What part does he play in Albert’s plan? Answer: Yuri is a senior student, perhaps of medical school. He knows a lot of medical students. It is he who introduces Albert to Dr Ernest Weil and helps further Albert’s plan by getting him medical certificate he desires so earnestly.
Question 16: “Ugh!” Exclaimed Albert, “these are the students”. Comment. Answer: Yuri lived among poor students. Albert thought them ‘civilised human beings’. Yuri told him that one of the students killed another in a duel and felt proud of it. At this Albert was filled with disgust because he hated violence.
- Question 17: Yuri calls Albert ‘the world’s worst liar’—do you think this is an insult or a compliment to Albert? Why? Answer: It is a compliment, Albert is honest and truthful.
- He can’t tell a deliberate lie.
- He can’t deceive anyone.
- He is so simple hearted that if he tries to tell a lie, his face betrays him at once.
Question 18: Why was Albert quite nervous when he met the doctor? What does this nervousness indicate about his nature? Answer: Albert had been wondering all day what to tell the doctor. In fact, he had worried so much that when the time came to see the doctor he was quite nervous.
His nervousness shows that he had a very sensitive nature. Even a minor worry would ruffle him up. Question 19: How did Albert hope to convince the doctor? Answer: Albert declared humorously that he was going to have a real nervous breakdown. It would make it easier for the doctor to certify his illness.
The next time Yuri saw Albert he found that the latter had lost his high spirits. Albert confirmed that he would really have a nervous breakdown which would satisfy any doctor. Question 20: Who was Ernest Weil? How did he help Albert? Answer: Ernest Weil was a doctor.
- He had qualified as a doctor only the previous week.
- He was a good friend of Yuri.
- Albert told Yuri of his plan to leave school.
- Yuri told him to go to Dr Ernest Weil to get a medical certificate for the purpose.
- Question 21: What advice did Yuri give to Albert before meeting Dr Ernest Weil? Answer: Yuri told Albert not to deceive Dr Ernest Weil.
He should tell everything clearly. He should be frank with him. He shouldn’t pretend that he had got what he hadn’t. Question 22: What opinion do you form of Dr Ernest Weil? Answer: Young Ernest Weil had just qualified to be a doctor, but he was intelligent.
- He could not be deceived easily.
- He was frank, honest and sympathetic.
- He wins the confidence of his patient with his warm smile.
- His sharp analytical mind helps him in quick diagnosis and suggesting cure.
- Question 23: What did Albert tell Dr Ernest Weil if he certified that he had a nervous breakdown? Answer: Albert told him that he would go to Milan in Italy.
His parents lived there. Dr. Weil asked him what he would do there. Albert told him that he would try to get admission into an Italian College or Institute. Question 24: How, according to Yuri, could the medical certificate help Albert? Answer: Yuri thought that the medical certificate would help Albert to enjoy six month’s leave from the school.
He would not actually be leaving the school and if the worst befell, he could return and continue studies for the diploma. Question 25: How did Albert hope to get admission to an Italian college without a diploma from the German school? Answer: Albert hoped to get a testimonial from his mathematics teacher about his work.
He had learnt all the maths that is taught at school and a bit more. He hoped that this certificate would help him to get admission to an Italian college without a diploma from the German school. Question 26: What did Mr Koch think of Albert? Answer: Mr Koch had a high opinion of Albert.
- He thought that he couldn’t teach Albert any more and probably soft he would be able to teach his teacher.
- Mr Koch certified that Albert was ready immediately to enter a college or institute for the study of higher mathematics.
- Question 27: What did Yuri suggest to Albert before seeking an interview with the Principal? How far did Yuri’s efforts and suggestion prove useful during Albert’s meeting with the Principal? Answer: Yuri suggested that Albert should get a written reference from the mathematics teacher before seeing the head teacher.
His mathematics teacher gave him a glowing reference. However, it failed to serve the purpose for which Albert wanted to use it. Question 28: What reference did Mr Koch give to Albert regarding his wish to join a college in Italy? Answer: Mr Koch wrote that Albert was ready to enter a college for the study of higher mathematics.
- He also said that he couldn’t teach him any more and probably he (Albert) would soon be able to teach him.
- Question 29: What did the head teacher tell Albert when he met him? Answer: The head teacher told him that his work was terrible.
- He was not prepared to have him in the school any longer.
- He wanted him to leave the school then.
Question 30: What did the head teacher tell Albert when the latter asked him what ‘crime’ he had committed? Answer: The head teacher told Albert that his presence in the class made it impossible for the teacher to teach. It was also impossible for the other pupils to learn.
- He refused to learn and rebelled constantly.
- No serious work could be done while he was there.
- Question 31: “Albert felt the medical certificate almost burning a hole in his pocket.” What does the author mean? Answer: Einstein was eager to show the medical certificate to the head teacher and notice how he reacted.
However, the certificate had now become unnecessary, because the head teacher had decided to expel Albert. Question 32: How did Albert leave his school where he had spent five years? Answer: Albert left his school without any regrets. He, in fact, left it arrogantly.
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What did Albert Einstein do in Munich?
Biography of Albert Einstein Albert Einstein Biography Einstein, Albert (1879-1955) : He was born in Ulm, the 14 th of march, 1879. He spend his youth in Munich where his family had a little workshop. He was really interested in nature and physics. He was good in mathematics.
- When he was 12, he learnt geometry on his own.
- Around 1886 Albert Einstein began his school career in Munich.
- As well as his violin lessons, which he had from age six to age thirteen, he also received religious education at home where he was taught Judaism.
- He studied mathematics in 1891.
- Einstein was in disagreement with the lack of imagination and the excessive discipline of the Munich school,
When a commercial bankruptcy obliged his family to leave Germany for Milan, Einstein was 15 years old and he decided to leave school. He spend one year with his parents in Milan. In 1895 Einstein failed an examination that would have allowed him to study for a diploma as an electrical engineer.
Then he learnt in the school of Aarau and he went to the polytechnicum school of Zurich. He did not approve the education methods of the school. He was often absent in order to learn physics on his own and to play violin. He succeeded his exam in 1900. For two years, Einstein worked as a preceptor and as a teacher.
In 1902, he got a job as examiner for the licenses in Bern. In 1903, he got married with Mileva Mariç who was a previous school friend. They had two sons and they finally divorce. By 1909 Einstein was recognised as a leading scientific thinker and during that year he resigned from the patent office. During 1921 Einstein made his first visit to the United States. His main reason was to raise funds for the planned Hebrew University of Jerusalem. However he received the Barnard Medal during his visit and lectured several times on relativity. Einstein received the Nobel Prize in 1921 but not for relativity rather for his 1905 work on the photoelectric effect.
- In fact he was not present in December 1922 to receive the prize, since he was on a visit to Japan.
- Around this time he made many international trips.
- He had visited Paris earlier in 1922 and during 1923 he visited Palestine.
- After making his last major scientific discovery on the association of waves in 1924 he made further trips to South America in 1925.
By 1930 he returned several times to the United States. A visit to the United States in 1932 was followed by the offer of a position at Princeton. The idea was that Einstein would spend seven months a year in Berlin, five months at Princeton. Einstein accepted and left Germany in December 1932 for the United States.
- The following month, the Nazis came to power in Germany and Einstein was never to return there.
- In 1940 Einstein became a citizen of the United States, but choose to retain his Swiss citizenship.
- He made many contributions to peace during his life.
- In 1944 he made a contribution to the war effort by hand writing his 1905 paper on special relativity and putting it up for auction.
He died in 1955. : Biography of Albert Einstein
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