The Einstein Quiz
1 of 10
Einstein claimed to have developed "slowly," mentally, and, in consequence, was prone to bouts of which behavioral quirk as a young child?
Aphasia
Dysphasia
Echolalia
Dysprosody
ANSWER: Einstein repeated words with obsessive meticulousness when he was very young in an effort to sound them out properly. He later believed his protracted verbal development to be an advantage that allowed him to think about things most children would never consider. He also thought in pictures and images, rather than words: "I rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards." Einstein repeated words with obsessive meticulousness when he was very young in an effort to sound them out properly. He later believed his protracted verbal development to be an advantage that allowed him to think about things most children would never consider. He also thought in pictures and images, rather than words: "I rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards."
2 of 10
Einstein relied upon which natural phenomenon to help confirm and validate his General Theory of Relativity?
A tidal wave
A meteor shower
A rainbow
An eclipse
ANSWER: In 1919, an eclipse allowed physicists to calculate the rate at which gravity bent light, thus validating Einstein's predictions and legitimizing his theory. In 1919, an eclipse allowed physicists to calculate the rate at which gravity bent light, thus validating Einstein's predictions and legitimizing his theory.
3 of 10
Einstein transformed his Special Theory of Relativity into the even more profound General Theory of Relativity in a year that coincided with which historic event?
The Wright Brothers' first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C.
World War I
Babe Ruth was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees
The first feature film with synchronized sound was released
ANSWER: Einstein's breakthrough came in 1915, during the early stages of World War I. A noted pacifist, Einstein remarked of the war, "Europe in its madness has now embarked on something incredibly preposterous. At such times one sees to what deplorable breed of brutes we belong." Other dates: a) 1903; c)1920; d) 1927. Einstein's breakthrough came in 1915, during the early stages of World War I. A noted pacifist, Einstein remarked of the war, "Europe in its madness has now embarked on something incredibly preposterous. At such times one sees to what deplorable breed of brutes we belong." Other dates: a) 1903; c)1920; d) 1927.
4 of 10
Which university first offered Einstein a professorship?
Oxford University
The University of Zurich
The University of Bern
Princeton University
ANSWER: Einstein was able to claw his way into the ranks of academia at the University of Bern in 1908 after submitting a reworked version of a paper dealing with the light quanta. Prior to his professorship, Einstein unsuccessfully applied for a job at a high school in Bern, but was not even among the three finalists for the position. Einstein was able to claw his way into the ranks of academia at the University of Bern in 1908 after submitting a reworked version of a paper dealing with the light quanta. Prior to his professorship, Einstein unsuccessfully applied for a job at a high school in Bern, but was not even among the three finalists for the position.
5 of 10
Where was Einstein working when he produced the papers mentioned in the previous question?
A music school
A patent office
A distinguished university
A high school
ANSWER: Einstein's flurry of intellectual activity did not earn him the immediate celebrated success he had hoped for. This is partially due to the radically novel concepts he devised (which science had trouble embracing and understanding fully), so he was working as a clerk in a patent office in Bern, Switzerland. Einstein's flurry of intellectual activity did not earn him the immediate celebrated success he had hoped for. This is partially due to the radically novel concepts he devised (which science had trouble embracing and understanding fully), so he was working as a clerk in a patent office in Bern, Switzerland.
6 of 10
During his "wonderful year" of 1905, Einstein published four papers that would revolutionize physics. He only won a Nobel Prize for one of them, however. For which paper did he receive the award?
On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light
A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions
A Paper on Brownian Motion
On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies
ANSWER: The paper dealt with the concept of light quanta, and was an earth-shattering (though controversial) revelation to the world of physics. Although the paper was published in 1905, Einstein did not receive the Nobel Prize until 1921. The paper entitled "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" famously detailed his Special Theory of Relativity. The paper dealt with the concept of light quanta, and was an earth-shattering (though controversial) revelation to the world of physics. Although the paper was published in 1905, Einstein did not receive the Nobel Prize until 1921. The paper entitled "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" famously detailed his Special Theory of Relativity.
7 of 10
Einstein was exceptionally gifted at playing which instrument?
Piano
Violin
Cello
Flute
ANSWER: Einstein enjoyed a sustained passion for music his entire life, and was renowned for his efforts as a violinist. Einstein enjoyed a sustained passion for music his entire life, and was renowned for his efforts as a violinist.
8 of 10
Rumors abound that Einstein was terrible at mathematics, and failed multiple classes on the subject. Are these rumors fact or fiction?
Fact
Fiction
ANSWER: Einstein found the rumors humorous. When asked about the misconceptions surrounding his mathematical abilities, he responded: "Before I was fifteen I had mastered differential and integral calculus." This should be enough to put the rumors to bed indefinitely. While he was undoubtedly better at physics than math, he was no slouch in the discipline, but throughout his career did rely on more mathematically skilled friends to help him with the complex equations underpinning his convoluted theories. Einstein found the rumors humorous. When asked about the misconceptions surrounding his mathematical abilities, he responded: "Before I was fifteen I had mastered differential and integral calculus." This should be enough to put the rumors to bed indefinitely. While he was undoubtedly better at physics than math, he was no slouch in the discipline, but throughout his career did rely on more mathematically skilled friends to help him with the complex equations underpinning his convoluted theories.
9 of 10
Einstein's father gave him something when he was four or five years old, which Einstein credits with piquing his interest in physics and the relation between space and time very early on in his life. What was the something his father gave him?
A compass
A watch
A deck of cards
A pocket mirror
ANSWER: Einstein was bewildered by the mystifying powers of the compass, and the movement of the needle (he believed) led him to postulate that invisible powers were at work in the universe. "I can still remember—or at least believe I can remember—that this experience made a deep and lasting impression on me." Incidentally, Einstein's mother said that he could build a house of cards up to 14 stories high when he was a child. Einstein was bewildered by the mystifying powers of the compass, and the movement of the needle (he believed) led him to postulate that invisible powers were at work in the universe. "I can still remember—or at least believe I can remember—that this experience made a deep and lasting impression on me." Incidentally, Einstein's mother said that he could build a house of cards up to 14 stories high when he was a child.
10 of 10
When The New York Times, following The Times of London, picked up the story of Einstein's successfully tested theory, who did they assign to write the ground-breaking news?
An adjunct professor at Oxford
The entire New York Times staff
F. Scott Fitzgerald
A golf writer
ANSWER: The New York Times did not have a science stringer in London, and was two days behind on the story, so they assigned golf expert Henry Crouch to cover the news. The story is told quite humorously in Isaacson's sweeping biography. The New York Times did not have a science stringer in London, and was two days behind on the story, so they assigned golf expert Henry Crouch to cover the news. The story is told quite humorously in Isaacson's sweeping biography.
