Einstein the Cop
“We all know that light travels faster than sound. That’s why certain people appear bright until you hear them speak.”
After graduating in 1900 and receiving his academic teaching diploma from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zürich, Einstein spent almost two frustrating years searching for a teaching post. He acquired a Swiss citizenship in February 1901 and secured a job in Bern as a police officer. However, Einstein was still highly interested in mathematics and physics at that time. Working as a police officer and assigning speeding tickets led Einstein to his radical conclusions about the nature of light and the fundamental connection between space and time.
On a sunny Sunday in 1901, Einstein parked his motorcycle by the highway and stood ruminating about quantum physics, space, and time. Then a speeding car passed him by with the speed of exactly 153.72 Km/h. Einstein got on his motorcycle and chased the speeding car.
“Pull over Schumacher!” Einstein yelled, the car stopped, Einstein got off his motorcycle and walked to the car window.
Einstein: Do you have any idea how fast you were going?
Civilian: About 150 Km/h
Einstein: And how did you deduce that? Do you know how to calculate velocity?
Civilian: V= d/t
Einstein: Ok, step out of the car Galileo!
(Civilian steps out)
Einstein: Do you know the speed limit on this road?
Civilian: It’s 120 Km/h
Einstein: So what do you think of the law? Do you like breaking the law?
Civilian: I guess not.
Einstein: Are you drunk? I’m going to have to ask for a sobriety test, stand on one hand, and do the Macarena. Now tell me the meaning of life in one sentence.
Civilian: I don’t know sir.
Einstein: That’s it, you’re busted! The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination! You think that someone knows?
Civilian: Ok, I admit I was drunk
Einstein: I knew it; light travels faster than sound. That’s why certain people appear bright until you hear them speak.
And this is how Einstein began to explore the speed of light and the fundamental connection between space and time.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/post.philosophy/Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/PostPhilosophySupport me on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/postphilosophy
