For which body of work did Albert Einstein receive the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics?

In 1905, Albert Einstein published four papers in Annalen der Physik, known as the "extraordinary year" for the German-born physicist. These four papers, on Special relativity, Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect and mass-energy equivalence helped to lay the foundation for modern physics.

The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons when light is shone onto a material. Einstein’s award-winning paper, theorized light as discrete packets (or quanta), rather than as waves. The concept of light quanta proposed in the paper aided in the later development of quantum mechanics.

Brownian motion describes the behavior of the motion of small particles suspended in a liquid. Einstein’s paper derived the mathematical equations to describe the effect, based on the kinetic theory of gases. Einstein’s paper helped to further the idea of the atom, which at the time scientists still debated their existence.

Special relativity is based on two statements (or postulates), the laws of physics are identical regardless of the frame of reference moving at a constant velocity and the speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all observers, regardless of any motion of the light source.

Mass-energy equivalence, from which the relation is expressed as E=mc^2, in essence shows how much energy will be released by nuclear reactions. The equation explains why nuclear reactions can produce enormous amounts of energy compared to the energy released by chemical reactions.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

53 Comments

davidgrimsrud

Mrs. Marci, That myth of using 10% of one's brain has been completely disproven

Tom Seigo

Did not answer correctly, however, I hold that Einstein, for all of his knowledge, recognized that there is a supreme being (my words) responsible for each and every motion, action or living creature on earth and beyond infinity.

Boyd Tracy

Same wrong answer as the majority!

Doug Kern

Kenneth Dallas, check the reference link, last paragraph under the section entitled "Background", it states his work on photoelectric effect was what won him the Nobel prize in 1921.

joan musicmasters

The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Einstein in 1921 for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. He did not receive his award until one year later, in 1922; therefore, the answer given is, theoretically, incorrect.

Irene Townsend

Guessed it right

Jim Kinsey

Tom Seigo, You are right. He referred to him as the Master Mathematician. He also said that he did not believe that God would play dice with the universe. There is order in all things.