Did Einstein's Work Affect All Areas of Physics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the extent to which Einstein's work has influenced various areas of physics. Participants explore different fields, including quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and cosmology, debating the impact of Einstein's theories and contributions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants challenge the idea that Einstein's work did not affect certain areas of physics, asserting that his contributions are pervasive.
  • Others argue that Einstein's skepticism towards quantum theory limits his influence in that field.
  • Fluid mechanics and hydrodynamics are mentioned as areas where Einstein's influence may be minimal, though some participants question this assertion by referencing Fick's Law.
  • There is a discussion about Einstein's contributions to thermodynamics, particularly regarding Brownian motion and the photoelectric effect, which is linked to quantum mechanics.
  • Some participants assert that Einstein did not contribute to subatomic particle theory, while others counter that he postulated the existence of the photon.
  • The concept of the ether is debated, with some claiming Einstein's work did not resolve questions surrounding it.
  • Participants express uncertainty about Einstein's role in the expanding universe, with conflicting views on whether he predicted it or not.
  • Engineering physics, specifically moments, stresses, and strains, is raised as a potential area of influence, though it remains unclear what contributions Einstein made there.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no clear consensus on the extent of Einstein's influence across different fields of physics. Disagreements persist regarding specific contributions and the relevance of his work to various theories.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about Einstein's influence are based on interpretations of his work and its applications, which may depend on definitions and assumptions that are not universally accepted. The discussion includes unresolved questions about the relationship between Einstein's theories and modern physics concepts.

eNtRopY
I challenge you to name at least one area of physics that the work of Einstein did not somehow affect. If you take this challenge, you, like your pathetic parents, are destined for failure.

eNtRopY
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Since nothing makes you happy anymore, I suppose you get sick kicks out of sort of thing
 
well he didn't believe in quantum theory so i can't see how his ideas would be able to influence this field *runs and hides*
 
The name. It was called "Physics" before Einstein and it is called "Physics" today.
 
Phlogiston.
 
It could be hydrodynamics...fluid mechanics...probably...
But these examples are quite rare...
 
Originally posted by steppenwolf
well he didn't believe in quantum theory so i can't see how his ideas would be able to influence this field *runs and hides*

* SHOOTS FROM THE HIP *
Photo-electric effect!
* BANG! *

D.O.A.

eNtRopY
 
einstein is considered one of the "parents" of QM...
einstein-podolski-rosen paradox...the laser...and more are related to einstein...but that fluid stuff isn't...I guess...:)
 
Originally posted by bogdan
It could be hydrodynamics...fluid mechanics...probably...
But these examples are quite rare...

Hydrodynamics and fluid mechanics (its subset) both incorporate Fick's Law... a very basic mathematical principle. Could we really use Fick's Law in physics without the Einstein Relationship?

* POW! SOCK! BIFF! *

Who's next?

eNtRopY
 
  • #10
Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons
Phlogiston.

Why don't talk about phlogiston on a board where people still believe in ether, impetus, and cold fusion?

* BAM! right in the nuts *

eNtRopY
 
  • #11
I'm stupid...but what's thate "Einstein's relationship" ?
 
  • #12
Well...Einstein did not work on the GUT...at least not for weak and strong interactions...
And...fluid mechanics is a subset of hydrodynamics ?
 
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  • #13
Originally posted by eNtRopY
Why don't talk about phlogiston on a board where people still believe in ether, impetus, and cold fusion?

* BAM! right in the nuts *

eNtRopY

(**Picks up a piece of the nut(s) that Entropy just cracked, and enjoys eating it**) **MUNCH*^*MUNCH**

Actually, Einstein believed in the Ether, just that, he, like other believers in the Ether, couldn't prove it.

There was evidence that disproved two of, the then known, possible 'etherial operation' explanations, the third option was neither, known, nor explored.

Hence the answer is the Ether. Einsteins personal work was not what disproved that one, neither is there exsisting, today, a method of validation/test that has been tried/tested, for the third option.
 
  • #14
what did einstein do in thermodynamics?
 
  • #15
Originally posted by steppenwolf
well he didn't believe in quantum theory so i can't see how his ideas would be able to influence this field *runs and hides*

Except for the fact that he got his Nobel prize for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, which became one of the foundations of QM.
 
  • #16
Originally posted by Janus
Except for the fact that he got his Nobel prize for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, which became one of the foundations of QM.



However, he never got involved in subatomic particles. The majority of his work is based on a macro conception.
 
  • #17
Originally posted by maximus
what did einstein do in thermodynamics?

* click click *
Again, the Fick's Law and the Einstein Relation.
* BOOM! *

* the remains of maximus are now splattered on the wall that previously behind him *

eNtRopY
 
  • #18
Originally posted by bogdan
Well...Einstein did not work on the GUT...at least not for weak and strong interactions...

* bogdan quivers as he lies on the ground holding on to dear life *

Except that the primary goal of GUT is to unite every principle physical process... and of course explain Einstein's GR with this theory.

* slit *
* eNtRopY puts bogdan out of his misery *

eNtRopY
 
  • #19
Originally posted by maximus
what did einstein do in thermodynamics?

Before entropy gets in there with the knife, see his 1905 paper on the Brownian motion and Avogadro's constant.
 
  • #20
He never contributed to subatomic particle theory
 
  • #21
Originally posted by einsteinian77
He never contributed to subatomic particle theory

Sure he did. First, he postulated the existence of the photon, which is on the list of "subatomic particles". Second, the Standard Model is a union of the electroweak theory and QCD, two relativistic[/color] quantum field theories. We all know the Standard Model won't last, but the candidates to take it over (namely String Theory and Loop Quantum Gravity) are also relativistic.
 
  • #22
Acoustics! Although i don't think its possible for any scientist to effect it since pretty much done with.

He never contributed to the expanding universe that was observed by Hubble too.
 
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  • #23
I think entropy is enjoying this a little bit too much. Didnt einstein try to Unify the different stuff in Fluid mechanics? I said try because he was never able to do it(if he tried that is) but I am with entropy on this one.

Do i get to shoot people as well?
 
  • #24
Originally posted by einsteinian77
He never contributed to the expanding universe that was observed by Hubble too.

but he predicted it.
 
  • #25
well..einstein didn't know about weak and strong interactions...he tried to unify gravity with electromagnetism...
So...QCD is a domain where einstein had nothing to say...
Of course you can say that he had something to do with it...but it's like saying that Newton worked on the GUT because he tried to unify the movement of cosmic bodies with bodies on earth...
Let's not get too excited...einstein played a major role in physics...but he didn't influenced too much some areas...
Well...if a theory uses certain principles (like relativity) it doesn't mean that the creator of relativity had something to say about that theory...like the guy that invented in maths the method of induction...or the Fourier transform (Fourier)...Fourier wasn't interested in sginal processing and stuff like that...he used it for "heat diffusion" (I don't know the exact words for it)...so...
...reality check...
 
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  • #26
Maximus, Einstein never predicted the expanding universe. In fact, he had to change "his biggest blunder", or cosmological constant, to agree with the expanding universe.
 
  • #27
Originally posted by einsteinian77
Maximus, Einstein never predicted the expanding universe. In fact, he had to change "his biggest blunder", or cosmological constant, to agree with the expanding universe.

but he only developed the cosmological constant to undo the concludion he found in all his other calculations, which was the the universe could not be static. he never officially predicted it, you're right, but it was right there in front of him. if he had only stuck with it he could have.
 
  • #28
As I had stated earlier the Ether.

From this site, http://www.tu-harburg.de/rzt/rzt/it/Ether.html this address/speech, in his own words, "Albert Einstein, an address delivered on May 5th, 1920, in the University of Leyden"

A part of which is: "But on the other hand there is a weighty argument to be adduced in favour of the ether hypothesis. To deny the ether is ultimately to assume that empty space has no physical qualities whatever."


His work had 'no effect' on resolving the Etherial question, his opinion on it remained the same, even though the idea was, then, thought to have been disproven.

** Watches as eNtRopY<>Atrophies ** (a bit like melting)
 
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  • #29
what about engineering physics like moments, stresses and strains did he do anything there?
 
  • #30
Originally posted by bogdan
well..einstein didn't know about weak and strong interactions...he tried to unify gravity with electromagnetism...
So...QCD is a domain where einstein had nothing to say...

Electroweak and QCD are both relativistic[/color] quantum field theories. Special relativity is built into it!
 

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