Task 2 - Max Planck and Albert Einstein
Prior to the work of Max Planck and Albert Einstein, classical theory was the predominant scientific thinking. However, it eventually became evident that classical theory was unable to explain the occurrence of certain phenomenon observed in experimental data – in particular blackbody radiation and the photoelectric effect. The works of both Planck and Einstein have led to the development of quantum theory and contributed greatly to society’s understanding. As Planck and Einstein were both affected by the two World Wars, their work also played a role in politics. Einstein was an activist for world peace and believed that scientific research should be removed from social and political forces, and instead focused on the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. On the other hand, Planck was very patriotic and supported the rise of the Nazi regime. He believed that the purpose of science was to support a social and political agenda. During World War II, Planck remained in Germany conducting research directed to the war effort and faithful to the aims of the Nazi doctrine, while Einstein left Germany for the United States of America.
Classical Theory and Blackbody Radiation
The classical theory of thermal radiation states that thermal radiation originates from accelerating charged particles near the surface of the object and these charges emit radiation. It also states that as the temperature of the object increases, the acceleration of the oscillation (frequency) of the charges increases and the intensity of shorter wavelength (higher frequency) radiation increases. However, as figure 1 illustrates, there was a discrepancy between the classical theoretical prediction and the experimental resul...
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... the greater the total energy radiated (for a given temperature). Einstein also explained that wave and particle behaviour could coexist.
In 1916, Robert Millikan confirmed Einstein’s equation for the kinetic energy of the electron and Planck’s constant.
Verdict
Therefore, I believe that Albert Einstein is the “father of quantum theory.” Although Max Planck was the founder of quantum theory, he doubted his own explanations. Einstein accepted Planck’s assumptions as true and was eventually able to confirm Planck’s proposals. Without Einstein, the idea of quantisation could have been easily dismissed. Instead, Einstein extended quantum theory.
References http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod6.html http://dwb.unl.edu/Teacher/NSF/C04/C04Links/www.fwkc.com/encyclopedia/low/articles/q/q021000030f.html
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=576516
Einstein's equation "E=mc^2" has two sides which is constructive and destructive. The constructive side is when energy is converted into mass and the destructive side is when a small amount of mass is converted into energy. According to Einstein’s equation, the physicists of the Manhattan project hypothesized that a minute mass ...
After being taken by the Germans convinced others that they still had the lead in developing a fission weapon. It all started with the “Hungarian conspiracy” that had everyone convinced that the creation of a nuclear bomb was possible, but that the German government was already doing research in this field of study on such a weapon. To the rest of the world, the thought of Adolf Hitler might be the first to gain control of a weapon this destructive would be terrifying to the United States. Right, then they decided that the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt must be warned about the dangers and that the United States must begin its research department. As the planned gave way, Einstein was to write a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt about the possibilities and dangers of the atomic weapons, and later was taken to the president.
Introduced the quantum theory- stating that electromagnetic energy could only be released in quantized form.
In the 1920s the new quantum and relativity theories were engaging the attentions of science. That mass was equivalent to energy and that matter could be both wavelike and corpuscular carried implications seen only dimly at that time. Oppenheimer's early research was devoted in particular to energy processes of subatomic particles, including electrons, positrons, and cosmic rays. Since quantum theory had been proposed only a few years before, the university post provided him an excellent opportunity to devote his entire career to the exploration and development of its full significance. In addition, he trained a whole generation of U.S. physicists, who were greatly affected by his qualities of leadership and intellectual independence.
In 1907, Einstein used Planck’s hypothesis of quantization to explain why the temperature of a solid changed by different amounts if you put the same amount of heat into the material. Since the early 1800’s, the science of spectroscopy had shown that different elements emit and absorb specific colors of light called “spectral lines.” In 1888, Johannes Rydberg derived an equation that described the spectral lines emitted by hydrogen, though nobody could explain why the equation worked. This changed in 1913 when Danish physicist Niel Bohr applied Planck’s hypothesis of quantization to Ernest Rutherford’s 1911 “planetary” model of the atom, which affirmed that electrons orbited the nucleus the same way that planets orbit the sun. Bohr offered an explanation for why electrical attraction does not make the electrons spiral into the nucleus. He said that electrons in atoms can change their energy only by absorbing or emitting quanta. When an electron absorbs a quantum it moves quickly to orbit farther from nucleus. When an electron emits a quantum the electron jumps to a closer
Belanger, Craig. “Albert Einstein: The Path to Relativity.” Albert Einstein (2006): 1-3. History Reference Center. Web. 29. Apr. 2014.
This is one of the topics of this speech. Incidentally, both are German like I am. Their lives were shaped by the confrontation with Nazi Germany. Einstein was Jewish and left in 1933 when Hitler came to power. Heisenberg tried to compromise with the Nazis and make the best (whatever that was) out of it.
Stemming from the first years of the 20th century, quantum mechanics has had a monumental influence on modern science. First explored by Max Planck in the 1900s, Einstein modified and applied much of the research in this field. This begs the question, “how did Einstein contribute to the development and research of quantum mechanics?” Before studying how Einstein’s research contributed to the development of quantum mechanics, it is important to examine the origins of the science itself. Einstein took much of Planck’s experimental “quantum theory” research and applied it in usable ways to existing science. He also greatly contributed to the establishment of the base for quantum mechanics research today. Along with establishing base research in the field, Einstein’s discoveries have been modified and updated to apply to our more advanced understanding of this science today. Einstein greatly contributed to the foundation of quantum mechanics through his research, and his theories and discoveries remain relevant to science even today.
Radiation is fundamentally different from both conduction and convection in that the substances exchanging heat need not be in contact with each other. All substances emit radiant energy merely by virtue of having a positive absolute temperature.
"Albert Einstein - Questions and Answers". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 25 Dec 2013.
Radiate, by definition, means to send or spread out, and this is important to know when thinking about how exactly radiation occurs. We already discussed a child coming in from playing out in the snow, snuggling up to their father and getting warm through heat transfer by conduction- physical contact. Now, let’s say that the child comes inside from out in the cold, takes off their snow gear and places their hands over a hot fire instead. The child’s hands will warm up through the transfer of heat energy through radiation. Another example, which can be seen every day that you walk outside and the sun is shining bright- is the heat received on Earth by the sun, through the means of radiation. The Earth receives heat through the electromagnetic waves, and our bodies feel the warmth of the sun from these waves that are absorbed within our skin. Radiation is the only means by which heat energy can transfer through the empty space between Earth and the sun- neither conduction or convection have the ability to play a role in this area and therefore, we can see how truly important radiation is. Another interesting fact in regards to radiation is that “because more heat is radiated at higher temperatures, a temperature change is accompanied by a color change. For example, an electrical element on a stove glows from red to orange, while the
Since the energy of a photon is only related to its frequency, an equation (discovered by Einstein) relates photons to the electrons they produce by:
Albert Einstein was one of the most intellectuly advanced men to ever walk the earth. He was moddest and humble in everything he did. Going from country to country, college to college, Einstein inspired many young minds to strive for greatness. His accomplishments included the famous expression E = mc2, winning a Nobel Peace Prize, the theory of realativity, and vast discoveries in physics. This discoveries included information on light, energy, time, and gravity. Einstein hated war and encoureged freedom in a time when communism was on the rise. Albert Einstein was a truly astounding man.
Even though Albert Einstein’s life ended on that fateful April day, he will live on through the many contributions he has made to theoretical physics. A man of great creativity and perseverance, Einstein never stopped asking, “Why?” Perhaps humanity as a whole should start asking, “Why,” more often.
It wasn't until 1905, that the results of the Michelson-Morley experiment were explained. In Einstein’s most famous scientific paper, On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies, Einstein clarified that the idea of ether is unnecessary if the speed of light were expected to be an absolute const...