Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen Essay

Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen
Many people think of heroes and think of them as characters who help and save lives. Yes, that is a correct and simple definition of what a hero is. In a fictional world heroes use their special super powers to save and protect lives from alien invasion trying to conquer planet Earth. Medical professionals are no different in the sense that they too help in protecting and saving lives. They use their special powers to fight off alien microorganisms trying to invade your body making you sick. Medical professionals use many ways to diagnose, cure and care for patients. Technology has made a tremendous advancement and has improved the lives of many people. One major technological discovery that has helped to diagnose patients

and improving their lives is the discovery of X-rays. Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen is the hero accredited and responsible for the discovery of X-rays.
Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen was born in Lennep, Germany. His parents were a a merchant who manufacture cloth and his mother was Charlotte Constanze Frowein. When he was three years old he moved to Apeldoorn, Netherlands where he attended boarding school. In 1869 he graduated from the University of Zurich with a Ph.D in Physics. In 1874 became Lecturer at Strasbourg University where he eventually became a Professor of Physic until 1869 when he accepted the a position as Chair of Physics in the University of Giessen. In 1888 he accepted the same position but at the University of Wurzburg, but it wasn't until 1900 when he accepted a position at the University of Munich where he remained for the rest of his life.
Behind a great man there is always a great women. Rontgen married Anna Bertha Ludwig in 1874. Her father was owner of a cafe and there was where Rontgen met his wife.
They never had children of their own but were able to adopt a little girl. Her name was Josephine Bertha Ludwig, she was the niece of Anna Bertha Ludwig.
As a Physicist Rontgen has worked on many experiments such as the specific heat of different gases, thermal conductivity of different crystals, the electrical characteristics of quartz, among others.

But In November 8, 1895 a moment that revolutionized the world of Science, Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen had discovered what he called X-rays. He was working in his laboratory operating one of Crooke’s tube which is the main source of cathode rays. The room was dark and when he exposed the rays he noticed that a paper made of barium platinocyanide was glowing. Rontgen try the experiment several times until he concluded that it was a new kind of ray rather than just light or electricity emitting from Crooke’s tube. He also concluded with his experiments that different kind of materials had a different degree of penetration depending on the density of the material. As he continued with his experiments he placed his wife’s hand on a image receptor and exposed the hand with the x-ray. The image was developed and was another proof of the discovery of x-rays when her hand showed the bones along with a ring she was wearing. During this time, Rontgen and his fellow colleagues didn't know about the fatal consequences of radiation. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen died in Munich, Germany in February 10, 1923. The reason of his death was carcinoma of the intestines. Coincidence, probably

not.
Along with the discovery of x-rays honors, recognitions, and awards started to come in. In 1901 he was the first to be awarded the Noble Prize in Physics. Prior to the Noble Prize in Physics he was awarded Rumford medal in 1896 giving because of his outstanding discovery. Matteucci Medal given to him in the same year. This is an Italian ward for physicist for their contribution. Elliot Cresson Medal in 1897 which is the highest award given by the Franklin Institute. Others awards and recognition came in naming places after him like streets, schools, cities and institutions.
Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen is a hero because with his great discovery he was able to help many people. Although x-ray radiation has its negative and fatal properties, x-rays help doctors to diagnose patients more accurately and target the area in question precisely to offer a better cure. The safety precautions have being follow strictly in caring for the patients not to be overexposed. With the aid of x-rays people are living longer and their quality of life has being elevated greatly.