Here's a breakdown:
* The concept of the atom's existence was established long before Einstein. Greek philosophers like Democritus theorized about atoms centuries ago.
* Einstein's contributions were primarily in the realm of relativity and quantum physics. He explained the photoelectric effect, which demonstrated the particle nature of light and had implications for understanding atomic structure.
* The breaking of atoms, or nuclear fission, was discovered much later by scientists like Ernest Rutherford (in the early 1900s) and Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn (in the 1930s).
Let me know if you have any more questions!
