Get here Question & Answers of CBSE Class 9 NCERT book “Beehive” Lesson 4 “A Truly Beautiful Mind”. The lesson is based on the life of ‘Einstein”. Answers are well crafted. For other lesson of Class 9 “Beehive” click here.
NCERT Solutions: A Truly Beautiful Mind
Thinking about the Text (Page 50)
1.Here are some headings for paragraphs in the text. Write the number(s) of the paragraph(s) for each title against the heading. The first one is done for you.
Answers:
(i) Einstein’s equation – Paragraph 9
(ii) Einstein meets his future wife – Paragraph 7
(iii) The making of a violinist – Paragraph 3
(iv) Mileva and Einstein’s mother – Paragraph 10
(v) A letter that launched the arms race – Paragraph 14
(vi) A desk drawer full of ideas – Paragraph 8
(vii) Marriage and divorce – Paragraph 11
2. Who had these opinions about Einstein?
- (i) He was boring.
- (ii) He was stupid and would never succeed in life.
- (iii) He was a freak.
Answers:
(i) He was boring: – Einstein’s playmates called him “Brother Boring” because he didn’t know how to interact with other children and preferred playing alone.
(ii) He was stupid and would never succeed in life: – A headmaster once told Einstein’s father that he would never make a success at anything, implying that he didn’t believe in Einstein’s potential.
(iii) He was a freak: – Einstein’s mother thought he was a freak when he was born, as she considered his head too large.
3. Explain what the reasons for the following are.
- (i) Einstein leaving the school in Munich for good.
- (ii) Einstein wanting to study in Switzerland rather than in Munich.
- (iii) Einstein seeing in Mileva an ally.
- (iv) What do these tell you about Einstein?
Answers: Reasons are explained below:
(i) Einstein leaving the school in Munich for good – Einstein felt stifled by the school’s regimentation, and he disliked the strict environment and clashed with his teachers. Consequently, he decided to leave the school permanently.
(ii) Einstein wanting to study in Switzerland rather than in Munich – Einstein’s parents had moved to Milan, and he was left with relatives. He wanted to continue his education in a more liberal city, and Zurich in Switzerland, where he eventually studied, offered the academic environment he desired.
(iii) Einstein seeing in Mileva an ally – Einstein found in Mileva Maric, a fellow student in Zurich, someone with similar intellectual interests and ideas, making her a valuable ally against the opposition he faced from people in his family and at the university.
(iv) What do these tell you about Einstein? – These incidents reveal that Einstein was a non-conformist who sought environments that allowed him more freedom and opportunities for intellectual exploration. He valued relationships with like-minded individuals and was determined to pursue his interests and ideals, even in the face of opposition or societal expectations.
4. What did Einstein call his desk drawer at the patent office? Why?
Ans. Einstein called his desk drawer at the patent office “the bureau of theoretical physics” because he used it as a secret place to develop his own ideas in theoretical physics while officially working on patent assessments. The name humorously indicated that he used the drawer to house his scientific thoughts and discoveries, although it was meant for patent-related paperwork.
5. Why did Einstein write a letter to Franklin Roosevelt?
Ans. Einstein wrote a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt urging him to take action against Germany’s potential development of an atomic bomb. In the letter, he warned of the destructive power of such a weapon and the danger of the Nazis acquiring it. This letter played a crucial role in initiating the American effort to develop nuclear weapons, known as the Manhattan Project.
6. How did Einstein react to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Ans. Einstein was deeply shaken by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He expressed deep concern over the destructive power of atomic bombs and regretted his role in advocating for their development. He became an active supporter of peace and disarmament efforts, using his popularity and influence to promote a world free from the threat of nuclear war.
7. Why does the world remember Einstein as a “world citizen”?
Ans. The world remembers Einstein as a “world citizen” because of his engagement in global issues, humanitarian causes, and advocacy for peace and international cooperation. His efforts to promote a world government and campaign for disarmament and democracy demonstrated his vision of a united and harmonious world, making him more than just a scientific genius but also a symbol of global citizenship and humanitarian values.
8. Here are some facts from Einstein’s life. Arrange them in chronological order.
[ ] Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity.
[ ] He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
[ ] Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany’s building of an atomic bomb.
[ ] Einstein attends a high school in Munich.
[ ] Einstein’s family moves to Milan.
[ ] Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm.
[ ] Einstein joins a university in Zurich, where he meets Mileva.
[ ] Einstein dies.
[ ] He provides a new interpretation of gravity.
[ ] Tired of the school’s regimentation, Einstein withdraws from school.
[ ] He works in a patent office as a technical expert.
[ ] When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States.
Answers:
[1] Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm.
[2] Einstein attends a high school in Munich.
[3] Einstein’s family moves to Milan.
[4] Tired of the school’s regimentation, Einstein withdraws from school.
[5] Einstein joins a university in Zurich, where he meets Mileva.
[6] He works in a patent office as a technical expert.
[7] Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity.
[8] He provides a new interpretation of gravity.
[9] He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
[10] When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States.
[11] Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany’s building of an atomic bomb.
[12] Einstein dies.
Thinking about Language (Page 51)
I. Here are some sentences from the story. Choose the word from the brackets which can be substituted for the italicised words in the sentences.
1. A few years later, the marriage faltered. (failed, broke, became weak).
2. Einstein was constantly at odds with people at the university. (on bad terms, in disagreement, unhappy)
3. The newspapers proclaimed his work as “a scientific revolution.” (declared, praised, showed)
4. Einstein got ever more involved in politics, agitating for an end to the arms buildup. (campaigning, fighting, supporting)
5. At the age of 15, Einstein felt so stifled that he left the school for good. (permanently, for his benefit, for a short time)
6. Five years later, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists in an uproar. (in a state of commotion, full of criticism, in a desperate state)
7. Science wasn’t the only thing that appealed to the dashing young man with the walrus moustache. (interested, challenged, worried)
Answers: 1. became weak 2. in disagreement 3. declared 4. campaigning 5. permanently 6. in a state of commotion 7. interested
II. Complete the sentences below by filling in the blanks with suitable participial clauses. The information that has to be used in the phrases is provided as a sentence in brackets.
1. ________, the firefighters finally put out the fire. (They worked round the clock.)
2. She watched the sunset above the mountain, ________ (She noticed the colours blending softly into one another.)
3. The excited horse pawed the ground rapidly, ________ (While it neighed continually.)
4. ________, I found myself in Bangalore, instead of Benaras. (I had taken the wrong train.)
5. ________, I was desperate to get to the bathroom. (I had not bathed for two days)
6. The stone steps, ________ needed to be replaced. (They were worn down).
7. The actor received hundreds of letters from his fans, ________ (They asked him to send them his photograph.)
Answers:
- Working round the clock, the firefighters finally put out the fire.
- She watched the sunset above the mountain, noticing the colours blending softly into one another.
- The excited horse pawed the ground rapidly, neighing continually.
- Having taken the wrong train, I found myself in Bangalore, instead of Benaras.
- Not having bathed for two days, I was desperate to get to the bathroom.
- The stone steps, having worn down needed to be replaced.
- Receiving hundreds of letters from his fans, asking him to send his photograph.
Writing Newspaper Reports (Page 530
Here are some notes which you could use to write a report.
21 August 2005 — original handwritten manuscript of Albert Einstein unearthed — by student Rowdy Boeynik in the University of the Netherlands — Boeynik researching papers — papers belonging to an old friend of Einstein — fingerprints of Einstein on these papers — 16-page document dated 1924 — Einstein’s work on this last theory — behaviour of atoms at low temperature — now known as the Bose-Einstein condensation — the manuscript to be kept at Leyden University where Einstein got the Nobel Prize.
Write a report which has four paragraphs, one each on:
- What was unearthed.
- Who unearthed it and when.
- What the document contained.
- Where it will be kept.
Your report could begin like this:
Answer: The required report is given below:
Student Unearths Einstein Manuscript
21 AUGUST 2005. An original handwritten Albert Einstein manuscript has been unearthed at the University of the Netherlands, making an exciting discovery for the scientific community. The manuscript, consisting of a 16-page document dated back to 1924, sheds light on Einstein’s work on what is now known as the Bose-Einstein condensation, which deals with the behaviour of atoms at low temperatures.
The remarkable find was made by a diligent student, Rowdy Boeynik, during his research on various papers belonging to an old friend of Einstein. While examining these papers, Boeynik came across the precious 16-page document bearing the fingerprints of the renowned physicist himself.
The contents of the unearthed manuscript reveal Einstein’s groundbreaking research and contributions to the field of physics. It delves into the fascinating subject of Bose-Einstein condensation, a phenomenon that describes how atoms behave when cooled to extremely low temperatures. This revelation provides valuable insights into the theoretical underpinnings of quantum mechanics.
In recognition of its historical significance, the original manuscript will be preserved at Leyden University, where Einstein himself was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Physics. This decision ensures that the priceless document will remain accessible to researchers and the public, serving as a testament to the brilliance of one of the greatest scientific minds in history.
As researchers and scholars eagerly await further analysis of the manuscript’s content, the unearthing of this Einstein artifact stands as a remarkable event in the world of science, providing a glimpse into the genius and pioneering ideas of the renowned physicist.