October 2019 Auction Ends Thursday, October 31st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2019
Albert Einstein typed letter signed from 1943, with his hand-drawn diagram explaining a ''phenomenon'' that confounded the scientists at the National Defense Research Committee. The NDRC, headed by Dr. James Conant, was the very secretive and important organization assembled at the start of World War II to apply scientific knowledge to warfare. Its most important project was the development of the atomic bomb through the Manhattan Project, but it also did work on radar, poison gases, submarines, radiation, etc.
Einstein here responds to Dr. George Antonoff, Chemistry Professor at Fordham University (and creator of ''Antonoff's Rule''), regarding a physical phenomenon that Antonoff can't quite make sense of. Although the phenomenon isn't explained, one can deduce from Einstein's letter that it concerns the coagulation of oil when two liquids confront each other, creating a vortex. Antonoff supposed that the interaction was the result of electrical forces, but Einstein theorizes otherwise, nicely demonstrating Einstein's ability to analyze problems through abstract conceptualization. Letter reads in full,
''It seems to me that the supposition of electric forces is not needed to explain the phenomenon. The process seems to me to be the following: [Einstein's sketch]
Through the stirrer is produced a circulation of the water together with a vortex. The water of the surface together with the oil-layer is hereby drawn into the vertical vortex and the oil is brought to its central line through the difference of the centrifugal forces. In this region the small drops of oil will come in contact with each other and become coagulated by the capilarr forces. There will be, of course, an optimum speed, for if the speed of the liquid in the circulation becomes too high the small oil-drops will not stay long enough in the central part of the motion to coagulate...[signed] A. Einstein.''
Letter is accompanied by Antonoff's letter, explaining that he ''undertook this work by request of the Nat. Defense Research Committee headed by Dr. Conant. As importance [sic] of this problem in the war effort cannot be underestimated, your speedy reply will be highly appreciated.'' Einstein's letter measures 8.5'' x 11''. Folds, closed tear at top and light toning. Overall very good condition.
Albert Einstein Letter Signed From 1943 With His Hand-Drawn Diagram -- Einstein Helps Solve a Problem for the National Defense Research Committee, the WWII Task Force That Headed the Manhattan Project
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