Max Planck, Greatest German physicist

Month in December, year 1900. Science world was shocked and jumped from his seat. What happened? A German physicist, Max Planck, announced he had a bold hypothesis. He said radiant energy (energy of light waves) is not flowing in a continuous flow, but consists of pieces which he called quanta. Planck's hypothesis is contrary to the classical theory of light and electromagnetic This is
starting point of quantum theory which has since revolutionized the field of physics and presents us a deeper understanding about the nature of things and radiation.

Born in 1858 in the city of Kiel, Germany, he studied at the University of Berlin and Munich, obtained a Doctorate in physics summa cum laude from the University of Munich as a new age of twenty-one years. He briefly taught at the University of Munich, then at the University of Kiel. In 1889 he became master of University of Berlin until his retirement when he reached the age of seventy. The year was 1928.

Planck, as well as other scientists, interested in the "dark radiation quantity," the nickname for the electromagnetic radiation released by a perfect dark object when heated. (A perfect dark object is described as something that does not reflect light, but fully absorb all the light falling on it). The experiments of physicists have created a measure of cautious about the radiation released by the object even before Planck's work on the problem. First Planck's work was his discovery in terms of algebraic formulas that complicated aptly describes "dark radiation quantity." This formula is often used in current physics theory neatly summarizes the experimental data. But there was one problem: the laws of physics that have been received predicts an entirely different formula.

Planck deeply engaged on this problem and finally come up with a radical new theory: just out of radiant energy on the right multiplication of elementary units, called Planck's "quantum". According to Planck's theory, the size of the quantum of light depending on the frequency of light (eg color), and also balanced with the physical quantity by Planck summed up with "h", but now called "Planck standards." Planck's hypothesis is very contrary to what a general concept of physics. However, with the use of this he was able to find the theoretical origin of the right than the right formula of "quantity of dark radiation."

Planck's theory was so revolutionary, that no doubt can be considered an eccentric idea if Planck was not a physicist a steady and conservative. Although the hypothesis was sound strange, in this particular matter is clearly a guide to the correct formula.

At first, most physicists (including Planck himself) saw as no other hypothesis of a suitable mathematical fiction. After a few years, it was changed so that the conception of the quantum Planck can be used for various physical phenomena in addition to "quantity of dark radiation." Einstein uses this concept in the year 1905 in order to explain the effects fotoelektrika, and Niels Bohr in 1913 to use in his theory of atomic structure. By the year 1918, when Planck obtained the Nobel Prize, it became obvious that the hypothesis was essentially correct and it has a fundamental importance in theoretical physics.

Planck's anti-Nazi attitude that hard to make his position émigré in Hitler's reign. Her son was sentenced to death in early 1945 due to its role in the conspiracy of the officers who have a plan to kill Hitler. Planck himself died in 1947, at the age of eighty-nine years.

The development of quantum mechanics is probably the most important of the development of science in the 20th century, more important than Einstein's relativity theory. Benchmark "h" Planck's important role in theoretical physics and is now collected in two or three most basic physical standards. Benchmark that appears in the theory of atomic structure, the principle of "uncertainty" Heisenberg, in the theory of radiation and in many other scientific formula. Planck's first estimates of the value of the amount is calculated within 2% of accepted now.

Planck is generally considered the father of quantum mechanics. Although he played a modest role in the development of further theory, is wrong Planck disparage. First road indicated by him was important. He freed people's minds from false assumptions that existed previously, and he allows the people who later develop the theory much more clearly than we have now. Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.