At 7: 00 pm on April 19, Shanghai Telecom Chongming Submarine Cable Landing Bureau received the "invisible" photoelectric signal on time. Then, an email from Princeton appeared on the big screen-as the first stop of the "Physics Shines the World" beam in China, Chongming Island received this beam of light that carries the wishes of people all over the world.

April 19, 2005 is the 50th anniversary of Einstein's death. In the evening local time in New Jersey, USA, an optical signal was sent from Princeton, where Einstein worked, and he traveled around the world in 24 hours through an ocean optical cable and finally returned to the United States.

. On the schedule of optical transmission, 7 pm to 9: 30 pm Beijing time is designated as "China time". Starting from Shanghai, this optical signal will spread to 34 cities in China in two ways, and finally converge to Beijing.

Beijing time 19: The mail of Shanghai Telecom Chongming Submarine Cable Landing Bureau arrived.

"... 3, 2, 1" With the second hand approaching Beijing time 19, an email from Princeton, USA officially kicked off the light transmission activity of "Physics Shines the World". In fact, this visible way is to tell everyone that Shanghai Telecom Chongming Submarine Cable Landing Bureau received an invisible photoelectric signal at 19. At the same time, the middle school students in Shanghai Telecom Building 150 turned on the pen flashlight to shine on the wavy ceiling of the venue, and the light and shadow overlapped. Students commemorate Einstein in such a special way.

Einstein published two papers on the special theory of relativity in June and September of 1905, which are considered to have far-reaching significance in changing the historical process and put forward a brand-new view of time and space. To commemorate the 0/00th anniversary of the birth of the theory of relativity and the 50th anniversary of Einstein's death, the 58th session of the United Nations adopted a resolution to designate 2005 as the International Year of Physics.

Stay in each city for 5 minutes.

According to on-site experts, after 5 minutes, the light signal of "staying" in Shanghai will be divided into two ways, the northern line will be transmitted to Qingdao and the southern line will be transmitted to Hangzhou. Although it seems to be five minutes, according to relevant sources, in fact, the speed of light is too fast to react at all, which can be described as "fleeting." Five minutes, just the time of e-mail, was fixed in Shanghai Light Zone. In fact, the optical signal is not fixed, but it is still moving rapidly. Among them, the only thing that can be controlled is the direction of light transmission through the optical cable. Five minutes later, the invisible light also arrived in Qingdao and Hangzhou by email. According to reports, the main signal of the activity is a poster printed with Einstein's head and "International Year of Physics", and a page of physics-related research topics suitable for middle school students to read is sent by email.

It is reported that Einstein's "light" will travel from one city to another every five minutes, passing through 34 cities in China, and finally collected in Beijing, and then spread from Beijing to neighboring Russia and India. The whole light transmission process will stay in China for two and a half hours, which is very long compared with the global 24-hour light transmission time. Author: Morning News reporter intern Shao

"Einstein's Light" across Shanghai

Send ten difficult problems such as "making colored shadows" to the whole world at the same time, looking for "Einstein's second"

Morning News At 7 o'clock last night, a beam of light from Princeton University, where Einstein worked, came to Shanghai from the other side of the Pacific Ocean. In Shanghai Telecom Building, 150 middle school students turned on their pen flashlights and shone on the wavy ceiling of the venue, and suddenly light and shadow staggered.

Shanghai is the first stop of the "Physics Shines the World" light transmission activity in China to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Einstein's death. Five minutes later, the beam "stayed" in Shanghai for a moment, and then spread to Hangzhou and Qingdao. "Einstein's Light" travels from one city to another every five minutes, * * * passes through 34 cities in China, and finally reaches Beijing, from where it reaches neighboring Russian and Indian countries. The whole light transmission process stays in China for two and a half hours.

Experts explained that in fact, the speed of light is "fleeting", and the optical signal has not stopped in Shanghai, and it is still traveling at a high speed. This "light relay" activity makes light around the whole earth, symbolizing one of Einstein's most famous scientific contributions-the constant speed of light. □ Reporter Intern Shao

Global search for "Einstein's second"

Ten physical problems are accompanied by optical signals to find answers around the world.

Yesterday, along with the light signal, there was a mysterious email from Princeton, which contained ten research topics related to physics and suitable for middle school students, with the aim of finding "Einstein II" on a global scale. These include "making colored shadows", "making bicycle odometers", "making a steelyard that can measure liquid density" and "designing a solar cooker that is not affected by the change of sun position". "Let me have colorful shadows" is the first of these ten questions. The problem is this: everyone has a unique shadow. In my mind, there seems to be only one kind of shadow. Will there be colored shadows in the world? If so, what color will it be? Can you design a colorful shadow for yourself according to your appearance?

At the scene of yesterday's light relay, the relevant person in charge said in an interview that some topics are difficult to solve and students may not be able to solve them on the spot. The purpose is to cultivate middle school students' interest in physics research in this way.

[other nine major issues]

-The car has an odometer. Can a bicycle also have one that can automatically record every rotation of the bicycle wheel and convert it into kilometers? What methods can be used for convenient statistics? Whether by electronic means or mechanical means, as long as you can design such an odometer for bicycles, your relationship with physics will take a step forward.

-With a steelyard and some accessories, can you design and manufacture a steelyard that can measure the density of liquid?

-Solar energy is a kind of green renewable energy, which appears more and more in people's daily life, but the angle of the sun is constantly changing relative to the solar cooker. No matter where the sun is, there is a solar cooker with the same focus. Can you design it?

-Solar energy can also be used in other household appliances in family life. Is there any way to design a modern family that only uses solar energy to provide all kinds of energy?

As we all know, water resources in China are very scarce. How can a family use water and what kind of devices can save water in order to truly save water in the whole society?

-Garbage sorting can be seen everywhere in daily life, but it is usually done by hand. Can you classify these rubbish according to their physical characteristics?

-How can a door close automatically without a motor or spring? In fact, you can complete such a door by reasonably saving the energy when opening the door, but how to store this energy?

A flashlight can emit light without batteries, which contains many physical principles. Try to design such a magic flashlight with LED.

-The hoisting of crane columns on the construction site is very learned. Use relevant knowledge to adjust its height.

US time 18 20:45 Princeton: The national light relay commemorates Einstein.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Princeton, New Jersey, USA, 18 was very excited. Physicists and Einstein's fanatical followers get together, and they want to send the light of remembrance to all parts of the world in a special way.

At 8: 45 pm local time (8: 45 am Beijing time), the torch relay began at Princeton University where Einstein once taught. The school football field and two towers are first illuminated by flashing lights, and then the lights will be transmitted to the whole Princeton city in turn. Organizers of the commemorative activities will "remotely" instruct participants in nearby cities to press the light button by telephone until all cities in the United States light up the lights to commemorate Einstein.

In fact, the activity of commemorating Einstein with lights was first proposed by Max Liptz, a professor of physics at Graz University in Australia. Although this idea has been appreciated by many colleagues, it has been criticized by many environmentalists and astronomers. They think that so many lights on at the same time will cause light pollution.

media comments

Xinhua news agency:

Xinhua News Agency published a commentary entitled "Refueling for Physics" yesterday. The commentary believes that in the new century, the world needs a second Einstein, and human beings have the ability to train Einstein-style scientists again, but this requires at least three aspects: the first is the concept of cultivating talents. The second is to grasp the key points. At present, physics is developing in both macro and micro research directions. At the same time, the society also requires physics to play its "utility" function, study complex systems, and let physics put forward solutions to energy, materials, information and environmental problems. The intersection and infiltration between physics and other disciplines is becoming more and more important. The third is to strengthen exchanges.

-The New York Times:

A few days ago, this newspaper published a commemorative article "One Hundred Years of Uncertainty" to review Einstein's scientific course in 1905. Einstein said: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. It is important not to stop asking questions. " In March, April, May and June of this year and165438+1October, Einstein published five papers in succession, especially three papers on special relativity, light quantum theory and photoelectric effect, which promoted the revolution of the whole physics. Therefore, this year is called the "miracle year" of physics.

-Washington Times

The newspaper spoke highly of Einstein's contribution to the development of natural physics with the title "Einstein's wisdom is unparalleled". The article said that 50 years later, fluffy and thick white hair and drooping beard are still the unique signs of Einstein's genius. The greatest scientist in modern times, only Newton, Galileo and Aristotle can compare with him in the history of western civilization. Einstein's thought and method of using the truth of things contributed to the emergence of computers, satellites, telecommunications, lasers, television, nuclear energy and atomic bombs. Einstein is a cartoon character: he can't drive, and he likes to walk home from his office in Princeton. He likes to walk across the fence with an umbrella. If he misses one, he will start all over again. In these lonely moments, Einstein was immersed in thinking about the "eternal mystery" of the universe.

-Los Angeles Times

The newspaper column commented that Einstein was an "accidental genius". He formed his understanding of the universe purely by his own intelligence, and even Americans who are not enthusiastic about science regard him as the highest symbol of science. Nowadays, his intelligence is unparalleled, and "the next Einstein" may be an extravagant hope.

Related topics: World Physics Year 2005: Global Commemoration of Einstein