October 24, 2024
Weekend Update
by Richard Rein
Albert Einstein could have chosen to live nearly anywhere when he left Germany in 1933 but he selected Princeton, New Jersey as his new hometown. Now, nearly 70 years after his death, it is time to immortalize his achievements with a museum in Princeton.
Einstein in Princeton
Learn about Einstein’s life in Princeton including his work at the Institute for Advanced Study; his humor and philosophy; his home life; and more.
Active Atoms: Energy, Brownian Motion and the Bose-Einstein Condensate
The existence of atoms was not yet proven in 1905 when Einstein proposed that random movements in water were atoms colliding. See how they behave at different temperatures down to several hundred billionths of a degree above absolute zero.
Time Dilation: An Older/Younger You
Project your face onto a pair of manikins to create two selves. Send one to travel at 95% of the speed of light. After 100 years, how does your space self look compared to the Earth-bound version?
Energy Unlimited: Special Relativity and E=mc2
Calculate how much energy your body’s atoms contain. Spoiler alert – it’s a HUGE number!
Image courtesy of anankkml at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Quantum Entanglement: The Game
Einstein called it “spooky action at a distance” and could never accept the idea, but quantum entanglement is real. To win this game, you must first entangle your particles, then compete to win. Can you figure out what to do?
The Photoelectric Effect
Explore the discovery for which Einstein received the 1922 Nobel Prize. Adjust wavelengths and metals to see how the effect changes.
Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).
PEMS will inspire future physicists, mathematicians, and cosmologists ages 8 and up by bringing the wonder of Dr. Einstein's methods and insights to the world.
From a video immersion room explaining aspects of gravity to hands-on exhibits about his greatest discoveries, and from a look at Einstein's ardent humanitarian efforts to how he lived his daily life, PEMS aims to be lively, fun, educational, and in the end, highly inspirational.
The museum will be in a new building to be constructed in the Princeton Central Business District. The exact location will be announced in early 2024. After fundraising, construction, and exhibit installation, we expect PEMS to welcome its first Einstein fans in late 2026. Stay tuned!