Reviews
A lesser-known aspect of Einstein's incredible contribution to understanding the physical universe and human creations makes up the subject of this fascinating book... In this compact, readable account, one discovers Einstein's practical interests that lay beyond his seminal work in relativity and quantum physics... Highly recommended.
One turns to József Illy’s lovely little book on Einstein the experimenter and inventor... With a lean and matter-of-fact prose, he takes us through a long history of such things as Einstein's many expert opinions on everything from gyrocompasses and pile drivers to an 'electrophonic piano' and a makeup mirror. We learn about Einstein’s own inventions, ranging from an airfoil and a refrigerator to an altimeter and a light-intensity self-adjusting camera. The book concludes with the most complete history ever written of Einstein’s work for the US Navy during World War II on magnetic-influence proximity fuses for torpedoes.
Einstein’s papers reveal a down-to-earth side. Learn about his inventions and ideas, including waterproof breathable clothes and an explanation for rivers’ meanderings.
A must for any Einstein historian and refreshing reading for anyone interested in the meanderings of a great scientist, The Practical Einstein is a special book. Enjoy!
This short but well-documented book is not a radical evaluation, but an engaging one. It suggests a more human and more 'hands-on' Einstein than the popular myth, and perhaps a better role model: his career of mixed productivity, eclectic interests, consulting work and brief enthusiasms may be recognizable to more than a few contemporary scientists.
Book Details
Preface
Introduction
1. Musings
The Flettner Ship
Why Do Rivers Meander?
2. Experiments
Michelson, Morley, and Eötvös Reinvented
The Mass of the Electron
Ampère's Molecular Currents
The Velocity of Gas
Preface
Introduction
1. Musings
The Flettner Ship
Why Do Rivers Meander?
2. Experiments
Michelson, Morley, and Eötvös Reinvented
The Mass of the Electron
Ampère's Molecular Currents
The Velocity of Gas Reactions
A Geodynamo Model?
Light: Waves or Particles?
Explaining Superconductivity
3. Expert Opinions
The Patent Office
Gyrocompasses
Mixing Tubes
Hebeluftschiff
Tungsten Wires for Incandescent Lamps
Triodes for Amplification
Sound Direction Ranging in Air and Water
Prospecting for Ore and Water from a Dirigible
Riveting Hammers and Pile Drivers
Production of High-Pressure Gases
"Electrophonic Piano"
Aerial Stereophotography
Magnetic Cores with Low Electric Conductivity
Telescope for Daylight Observations of Phenomena near the Sun
Makeup Mirror
Balanced Tapered Bearing Rollers
4. Europe an Inventions
The "Little Machine" (Maschinchen)
Planimeter
The Cat's Back Airfoil
Compasses for Land, Sea, and Air
Filtering Viruses
Refrigerators in a Row
Magnetostrictive Reproduction of Sound
Hearing Aid
5. American Inventions
Altimeter
Waterproof Breathable Clothes
Heat-Insulating Vessel
Liquid Filtering by Electrostatic Method
Automatic Correction of Measured Data
Airplane Horizon Indicator
Electrostatic Microphone
Fluid-Level Indicator
Light-Intensity Self-Adjusting Camera
Steel-Tape Recording
Aircraft Speedometer
Timer
On the Threshold of the Manhattan Project
Torpedoman Einstein
Notes
Index