Albert Einstein/the Manhattan Project - 2254 Words

Historical Question: How did Albert Einstein influence the creation and evolution of the Manhattan Project and why did Einstein’s thoughts and involvement in the Manhattan Project change throughout World War II? Albert Einstein was undoubtedly one of the geniuses of the twentieth century. His work with gravity, relativity, light, and the universe helped to herald in a golden age for the study of science, of which scientists are still marveling at and studying today. Additionally, he was well-known for his participation in the Manhattan Project and the construction of the two atomic bombs. Along with numerous other scientists such as Fermi and Szilard, Einstein came to the realization that Nazi Germany was on its way to constructing†¦show more content†¦Einstein’s famous E=mc ² (energy is the mass of the object multiplied by the speed of light squared) equation was the kindling for the research and development of atomic energy. Quite simply, it implied that a small amount of matter converted into energy could produce tremendous amounts of energy because the speed of light, a massive number, is being squared. This was the foundation of the atomic bombs. A small amount of uns table isotopes of either natural uranium or manmade plutonium could produce tremendous quantities of energy in the form of heat and light if they could be forced to undergo spontaneous reactions (Loeber, 1-2 from USMA library). J. Robert Oppenheimer, the technical lead for the Manhattan Project took this equation and attempted to create the first nuclear reactor, which was to be used as a prototype atomic bomb. Because there were still so many questions that needed to be answered about nuclear fission designs, such as how to start a spontaneous reaction, Oppenheimer commissioned Enrico Fermi, a famous Italian physicist, to help him create a basic nuclear reactor, which Fermi soon dubbed CP-1, â€Å"Chicago Pile #1.† The original thought process on starting a self-sustaining nuclear reaction was the â€Å"gun-method,† in which a long hollow tube had two halves of a sphere of solid plutonium, with an explosive at one side, which would â€Å"shoot† one half into the other, hopefully creating a supercritical mass that could achieveShow MoreRelatedLearning Skills : A Unit 5 Lesson 81400 Words   |  6 Pagesquick way to increase your understanding of a subject. You have read the letter Albe rt Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt in 1939 persuading the president to take action and build relationships with scientists who had discovered the use of uranium and creation of bombs. Who was Albert Einstein? Why should President Roosevelt have listened to what he had to say? If you search for more information on Albert Einstein, you will learn that it was very smart of Roosevelt to listen to this knowledgeableRead MoreLearning Skills : A Unit 5 Lesson 91256 Words   |  6 Pagesinformation and applying it to the text we are reading? What other types of media are there? Open your digital notebook and describe your strategy and the learning skills you will use to succeed in this lesson. image http://pixabay.com/en/albert-einstein-scientists-physicist-62931/ Instruction, Modeling and Student Activities Websites are a great resource for finding diverse media and formats such as audio, visual, and informational resources that contribute to a topic, text, or issue underRead MoreJustified or Unjustified: America Builds the First Nuclear Weapon883 Words   |  4 PagesOn August 2, 1938, in the heat of World War II, Albert Einstein, a physicist born in Germany, sent a letter to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States. The letter suggested America to build an atomic bomb before the Nazi Germany does. However, it took more than two months for the letter to reach Roosevelt. On October 19, 1938, Roosevelt agreed, replying, â€Å"I found this data of such import that I have convened a Board †¦ to thoroughly investigate the possibilities of yourRead MoreAlbert Enstein1246 Words   |  5 PagesIntellectual Property †¢ History Bios †¢ †¢ Share †¢ Print Ads:    †¢ Albert Einstein    †¢ Inventors Help    †¢ Einstein Quotes    †¢ Patent Invention Idea    †¢ Example of Biography Albert Einstein - Biography [pic] By  Mary Bellis Photo: Albert Einstein Albert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. He enjoyed classical music and played the violin. One story Einstein liked to tell about his childhood was of a wonder he saw when he was four or five yearsRead MoreThe Atomic Bomb Of World War II1217 Words   |  5 Pageschampion in military strategies; this endeavor also known as the Manhattan Project served as catalyst in WWII. During this time, the world’s most intelligent scientists discovered that German physicists were learning to produce a bomb that could cause immense destruction. The fear of such a bomb led scientists Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi to inform President Franklin D. Roosevelt of Germany’s plans. Renowned scientist, Albert Einstein had fled Nazi persecution and was by then living in the UnitedRead MoreThe Contributions Of Albert Einstein1197 Words   |  5 PagesNovember 6, 2016 2nd Period Mrs. Watson Albert Einstein Research Paper There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. (Einstein). Through Albert Einstein s eyes, everything that exists in the world is a miracle. Einstein s discoveries have proved the science world that the elements which make up the earth are indeed miracles. Albert Einstein is one of the most accomplished mathematicians and scientistsRead MoreDuring The Early 1940’S Atomic Science Had Just Began To1247 Words   |  5 Pagesfunded the Manhattan Project that sole goal was to develop a nuclear bomb. The initiator for this endeavor was surprisingly the famous scientist Albert Einstein. He wrote to Franklin D. Roosevelt , and tipped him off that the Germans were building a nuclear warhead (Ushistory.org). Roosevelt was extremely concerned for the safety of the world and hastily approved for uranium research. The code name â€Å"Manhattan Project† was given to the American effort to build an at omic bomb. This project was kept secretRead MoreThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And The United States1111 Words   |  5 Pagesera was just being discovered, Albert Einstein had revealed an unordinary way of destroying things. Something so dominate that cities would be demolished into pieces of ruins. Einstein communicated with the United States President Truman of this new brilliant idea of a way to stop the war. When the war had become out of hand and resulting into many casualties, Truman considered. The United States of America took advantage of the new theory and embarked into a project that would change mankind andRead MoreEssay on Japanese Comfort Women1011 Words   |  5 Pagesscientists involved in the Manhattan Project, and had reliable statistics. I used a quote from Tony Alessandro, former president of the U.S.S. Missouri Association. This source was helpful to see the both sides of the debate on dropping the atomic bomb. Einstein, Albert. Letter from Albert Einstein to FDR. Letter to F.D. Roosevelt. 2 Aug.1939. Letter from Albert Einstein to FDR, 8/2/39. PBS, 2 Aug. 1938. Web. 01 Nov. 2013. This is a digitalized copy of a letter from Einstein sent to Franklin DelanoRead More Albert Einstein 1879-1955 Essays752 Words   |  4 Pages Albert Einstein 1879-1955 Einstein was undoubtedly the single greatest contributor to science in the 20th century. Few will argue with that point. His gifts to todays understanding of the universe, energy, time among others base many branches of modern science. His contributions are not restricted only to the fields of science, but also to the individual person: from powerful heads of states to the average citizen. Albert Einstein helped Oppenheimer1 develop the fundamental science needed to