Antoine Henri Becquerel, Inventor Of Radio Activity

Inventor of radio activity was Antoine Henri Becquerel was born in Paris in 1852. Good education, can a doctorate in 1888. In 1892 he became professor of practical physics at the Natural History Museum (Musee d 'Histoire Naturelle) in Paris. Interesting to note, both grandfathers and his father not only shared but also physicists ever occupy the same position. Strangely, his son, too. In 1895, Becquerel became professor of physics at the polytechnic university. (Ecole Polytechnique) in Paris. It was here in 1896 he made a great discovery that made him famous.

The year before Wilhelm Rontgen discovered X-rays, a discovery that shook the scientific community. Memprodusir Rontgen X-rays using a cathode ray tube, Becquerel wondered if X-rays can not diprodusir with ordinary sun activity on non-metal substance. Becquerel in his laboratory has several crystal "uranium Potassium sulfate" - a mix that he knew of non-metallic - and he decided to experiment with it: first, he put some thick black paper around the photographic sheet to make sure no light can seemed to reach the sheet. Then he put the non-metallic crystals in the sheet that covered it and thrust it into the sun. Quite convincing when then can find photographic film, a shadow appears on top of crystal.

Becquerel initially believed that he had managed to find a new X-ray sources. Then, by chance, he discovered that a mixture of uranium would include radiation, although not presented to the open light. Indeed there are days where made Becquerel still vague and uncertain as it should repeat the experiment. Because of that he put his things - the crystal and photographic sheet-wrapped and carefully - the way in the drawer, without first showing the crystal in the sunlight. A few days later could not help him decide to wash sheets unused photographic it. He was surprised, it appeared the shadow sheet crystals!

Clearly what happened is not the usual non-metal. Becquerel wisely decided to withdraw the original project and replace it with a strange phenomenon that the investigation is going through. Soon he discovered that the radiation will be transmitted by each chemical mixture of uranium is not X-rays (For a while called Becquerel rays). Becquerel also found that this new type of radiation will be transmitted by each chemical uranium and not just by what is investigating the first time. In fact, he found that although containing radioactive uranium metal. Because the radiation does not depend entirely on the chemical form of uranium, Becquerel realized that the radio activity is not derived from the chemical, but it must be from the uranium atom itself.

In 1896 Becquerel published several scientific papers about the phenomenon of discovery. Among the scientists who read the paper work and then became interested in conducting additional investigation was Marie Curie. He soon discovered that the element "thorium" also contains radioactive. Working closely with her husband, Pierre, he also found two things that used to be unknown, ie "polonium" and "radium", both contain radioactive. (Incidentally Marie Curie, who first used the term "radio activity" to describe this phenomenon).

Other scientists, including Ernest Rutherford and Frederick Soddy, also conduct investigations of this phenomenon, and in a short time knowing that Becquerel rays contain three types of radiation. The scientists call it "light negligent", "beta rays" and "gamma rays" and began to study the three beams affairs.

The most interesting aspect of these rays is the energy terkandungnya. Clear radioactive substance pass the energy in large quantities and there seems no other possibility than all comes from the inside of atoms. This teramatlah pulled, because before the discovery of radioactive grain of mustard never even thought that the atom can contain so much energy.

Year 1903 can Becquerel the Nobel Prize for physics together Pierre and Marie Curie. He died in 1908 in the town of Le Croisic, France.

Radioactive it has significance for several reasons. First, have a variety of direct uses, such as for cancer treatment. Second, a big advantage for scientific investigation. Radioactive help us obtain information about nuclear structure; instructions used in the investigation of radioactive biochemistry; retrieval of radioactive time an important tool in the investigation of geology and archeology. But the greatest significance because exposure of the fact that a large number of energy "stored" in the atom. Within fifty years since the discovery of Becquerel, discovered a technique for removing large quantities of atomic energy in a short time. (The bomb dropped on Hiroshima which consists of uranium). Nuclear reactors, of course, presents how the release of atomic energy in a more supervised and more slowly.

Where Becquerel position in the list of hundred of these? Of course, all these considered unreasonable nuclear development is a Becquerel services. Because, there are many other people involved in this development. Nevertheless, the discovery of radioactive Becquerel is one of the discoveries in science embryos. The fact is, there are similarities between Becquerel and Leeuwenhoek. Like Leeuwenhoek discover microscopic life in a single point of water, so did Becquerel discovered new, unexpected world inside the atom. Both found it by accident. However, it will not happen if they did not do a serious investigation.

However there are similarities between the two, it was clear Becquerel should be placed under Leeuwenhoek. Bacillus and the knowledge we have about a greater role in human life and energy than radioactive atoms.

On the other hand, I think Becquerel has meaning is more important than others (such as Enrico Fermi), which is more directly involved in the fabrication of an atomic bomb. Before the year 1895 there was no theoretical view that shows that the radioactive phenomena there is. Once the key findings in mind, the next discovery in the field a little more could not be prevented anymore. Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.