Einstein and the Atomic Bomb
Special Theory of Relativity
• In 1905 Albert Einstein discovered that a
large amount of energy could be released
from a small amount of matter.
• However Bombs were not in his mind
because even he considered himself a
pacifist.
• Wouldn’t fight in a war no matter the cause
of it
Position Changed
• In 1933 the charismatic Hitler rose to power causing a
great fear and hatred for him among the Jewish people
including Einstein who changed his position on fighting.
• In 1938 Germany was able to split an uranium atom and
was getting more aggressive.
• Physicists Leo Szilard and Eugene Winger became
concerned with the recent aggression by Germany but
had no influence with those in power.
• Leo and Eugene consulted with Einstein and they wrote
a letter to Roosevelt with his signature
• The first letter Einstein stated the Germany is pursuing
the interest of an A bomb and we should do the same.
Einstein’s Letter to Roosevelt
Roosevelt received the Letter from Einstein on October 11, 1939 from Alexander
Sachs.
After Roosevelt read the Letter he assigned a committee of people to study
uranium chain reactions.
The Briggs Committee
• FDR formed a committee of people to start studying
uranium chain reactions after Germany Invaded Poland
in 1939. Lyman James Briggs was in charge of this
committee (photo of in top right).
• According to Leo, Eugene, and Einstein Progress was
moving to slow and prompted two more letters in March
and April of 1940
• Both letters stated that the progress of The Briggs
Committee was moving to slow, and again stated how
much interest the Germans had taken in building the
bomb including the holding of mines that had uranium
preserved for other countries
Need for Greater Speed
• The Briggs Committee had taken too long and
put great concern among Einstein, Leo, and
Eugene, because the Germans were advancing
further.
• Finally in 1941 the British Confirmed that an
atomic bomb could be built for war by 1943.
• Immediately following the report accelerated
pace was taken by the Briggs Committee to
create a bomb.
• In August of 1942, 10 months after the bombing
of Pearl Harbor, the Bomb project became
known as the Manhattan Project.
Einstein’s Greatest Impact
• Einstein consulted with a number of groups
working on the bomb, but people didn’t trust him
and he was unable to work with them full time on
the project. He worked with Vannevar Bush
• The atomic bomb could have been built without
the letters Einstein wrote, but it was the US’s
early work on the A Bomb that allowed them to
win the war against Japan before Russia could
enter.
• As a result of Einstein’s early theories and of his
urgent letters to FDR the US was able to
produce…
The Result of His Earlier Relativity
work
• A Nuclear Blast
over
Hiroshima
Just another look
• Disastrous Results:
Memories
• Einstein felt very guilty for what he caused after
he saw the destruction of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki.
• He even said “I made one of the worst mistakes
in my life… when I signed the letter to President
Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be
made, but there was some justification-the
danger that the Germans would make them.
To Sum it All Up
• Einstein in 1905 theorized that he could
release a large amount of energy from a
small amount of matter.
• Did not event think of a bomb, because of
his pacifism, and claimed he wouldn’t fight
in a war no matter the cause of it.
• In 1933 his position changed as Hitler rose
to power.
TSIAU cont…
• Then in 1938 Germany was able to split
an uranium atom and was getting more
aggressive.
• Concerned physicists Leo Szilard and
Eugene Winger, who were suggested by
Alexander Sachs to write a letter,
consulted with Einstein and wrote the
letter with his signature.
TSIAU Cont…
• When FDR received the letter in October of
1939 he formed a committee known as the
Briggs Committee to research uranium reactions
• According to Leo, Eugene, and Einstein The
Briggs Committee was moving to slow and
prompted two more letters in March and April of
1940.
• Finally in 1941 the British Confirmed that an
Atomic Bomb could be built for use of war by
1943
• After that much accelerated pace was taken.
TSIAU cont…
• Finally after the bombings of Pearl Harbor,
FDR in August 1942 officially began the
Manhattan Project and developed the first
ever nuclear weapon.
• After seeing the results of his letters
Einstein felt very guilty and then died On
April 18th , 1955 in, Princeton New Jersey.
Einstein
• 1879-1955
• The End