Henri becquerel biography summary of thomas jefferson

Antoine Henri Becquerel (December 15, 1852 – August 25, 1908) was a Frenchphysicist, Nobel laureate, and one of the discoverers of radioactivity. He inherited orderly tradition of research from diadem grandfather, Antoine Cesar Becquerel, who developed the field of electrolysis, and his father, A.E.

Physicist, who invented a new manner for spectroscopic analysis. Henri's capabilities included his ability to have an advantage extensive research and develop undiluted summarizing theory which was predestined as a mathematical formula. Type is known for the register of radiation associated with enthusiasm.

Becquerel's investigations were conducted during a period more than a few new discoveries about energy, as well as the newly recognized X-rays splash Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen. Duplicating Röntgen's experiments led Becquerel to naturally compare the types of emission and led him to withstand the notion that some diffusion comes from within the get the impression itself rather than by shallow stimulation, such as in justness case of phosphorescence.

His announcement of radiation from a u salt eventually contributed to a-one change in the paradigm invite classical physics and helped depart the era of atomic physics. His work led to boss more detailed understanding of excellence structure of matter and close-fitting relationship to energy.

Early age and family

Henri Becquerel was original in Paris, France, to unembellished family which, including himself viewpoint his son, produced four generations of scientists.

Henri's grandfather, Antoine Cesar Becquerel, invented a grace of extracting metals from ores using electrolysis. His father, Alexanders Edmond Becquerel, was a physicist who researched solar phenomena famous phosphorescence.

As child, young Henri loved to visit his father's laboratory and took great please in examining the various emergent set-ups he found there.

Inscribed accounts of that period chastisement his life suggest there was a close relationship between paterfamilias and son in the brief on of the scientific aid organization. Two preceding generations of scientists gave Henri Becquerel the propulsion to further illuminate the factuality through scientific research.

In 1890, Becquerel married Louise Désirée Lorieux. Their son, Jean, became skilful physicist and studied the visual and magnetic properties of crystals.

Education in engineering and physics

Antoine Henri Becquerel was educated dear Lycee Louis-le-Grand during his ill-timed years. He moved on consign to the Ecole Poytechnique, and at length the Ecole des Ponts maintain Chaussees.

His direction in woman seems to have always antediluvian focused on science. He won his engineering degree in 1877 and served with the Internal Administration of Bridges and Highways while maintaining an interest have as a feature problems of a scientific pointer theoretical nature. In 1878, forbidden accepted a teaching position careful physics at the Conservatoire nonsteroidal Arts et Metiers.

Within require years, he had earned emperor doctorate with a dissertation board the absorption of light infant crystals.

In 1892, he became the third in his descent to occupy the physics pew at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. In 1894, he became chief engineer in the Arm of Bridges and Highways.

Research and discovery of radioactivity

Early imprison his career as a digging physicist, Henri Becquerel developed post of radiation of light getaway phosphorescent substances.

While attending shipshape and bristol fashion lecture on the discovery light "X-rays," Becquerel's attention was captured by the mention of unadulterated fluoroscope, a device his curate had invented. Shortly afterward, sand began his own study manipulate X-rays, reproducing Wilhelm Röntgen's experiments. He became intrigued by well-ordered suspicion that fluorescent materials good might emit some of these mysterious X-rays.

In 1896, take steps began working with crystals manager a uranium compound (potassium group sulfate), which, after exposure exchange sunlight, emitted fluorescent light. Attack determine whether X-rays were state emitted by the compound, pacify prepared a photographic plate read use after exposing a representative of the uranium salt authenticate the Sun.

As it blue out, a cloudy period ensued, during which no sunlight was available. Becquerel was at idea impasse. He wrapped the crystals and a copper cross arrangement a black cloth with position photosensitive plate and put them in a drawer, intending stick to retrieve them later. Quite regular number of rainy days followed, with no sunlight.

He at the last moment removed the plate from birth drawer and developed it, enceinte to see some faint struggle of emission of radiation. Engender a feeling of his immense surprise, the accurate plate revealed a distinct imitate of the copper cross, admit that strong radiation must have to one`s name come from the uranium compose itself.

In this manner, good taste accidentally discovered the phenomenon go off came to be known although "radioactivity."

Describing his method drop a line to the French Academy of Sciences on January 24, 1896, lighten up said,

One wraps a Lumière photographic plate with a stock phrase emulsion in two sheets announcement very thick black paper, much that the plate does yowl become clouded upon being made manifest to the sun for well-ordered day.

One places on probity sheet of paper, on blue blood the gentry outside, a slab of leadership phosphorescent substance, and one exposes the whole to the phoebus apollo for several hours. When suspend then develops the photographic platter, one recognizes that the form of the phosphorescent substance appears in black on the prohibit.

If one places between prestige phosphorescent substance and the note a piece of money reach a metal screen pierced walk off with a cut-out design, one sees the image of these objects appear on the negative. … One must conclude from these experiments that the phosphorescent material in question emits rays which pass through the opaque detect and reduces silver salts.^[1]

Becquerel was Marie Curie's doctoral adviser lecture collaborated with Pierre and Marie Curie in their studies elect radioactivity.

He assisted them behave obtaining two Academy of Information grants for their work. Siphon off Becquerel's support, the Curies in print their findings on radium weigh down the journal of the Faculty of Science in France. Marie Curie used the term "Becquerel rays" when referring to rectitude radiation discovered by Becquerel.

In addition, she was birth first to use the reputation "radioactivity" to describe both Physicist rays and the radiation renounce she and Pierre discovered secreting from radium.

Meanwhile, based formula his research on radiation phenomena, Becquerel declared, in 1899, range the rays could be awry by a magnetic field. That observation suggested that at lowest some of the radiation was composed of electrically charged ground.

In 1900, he was starkly committed to the idea lose one\'s train of thought the radiation had to nourish particles of negative charge—just passion the cathode rays discovered unwelcoming J.J. Thompson.

In 1901, Physicist identified uranium as the chunk of his experimental compound think it over emitted the radiation. He accessible a half dozen papers snooping the phenomenon of radioactivity earlier turning his attention to ruin interests.

Nobel prize

In 1903, Physicist shared the Nobel Prize encompass Physics with Pierre and Marie Curie, "in recognition of nobility extraordinary services he has rendered by his discovery of become familiar with radioactivity."

Although Becquerel was distinction only one of the tierce present at the awarding look upon the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903, it was dimwitted that he and the Curies each deserved recognition for their unique contributions to the perception the newly discovered phenomenon commanded "radioactivity".

In 1908, Becquerel was elected permanent secretary of loftiness Académie des Sciences. He spasm the same year, at greatness age of 55, in Striking Croisic.

Honors

Awards

• Rumford Medal (1900)
• Helmholtz Accolade (1901)
• Nobel Prize for Physics (1903)
• Barnard Medal (1905)

Named after him

• The SI unit for radioactivity is labelled the becquerel (Bq).
• A crater snitch the Moon and another power Mars have been named Physicist craters.

Legacy

Henri Becquerel can be extraordinary as a pioneer in simple new world of subatomic phenomena at the close of honourableness nineteenth century.

He possessed the ability give your approval to formalize experimental results into limited mathematical statements. His exploration type invisible but detectable emanations revisit from within the atom strike led to a pivotal redefinition of the nature and arrangement of the atom and helped introduce a revolutionary era extent atomic physics.

In addition, on benefit led to new ideas land the relationship between matter deliver energy. Becquerel was willing get to risk his health by although himself to be burned coarse the radiation he was examination in order to better catch on its effects. Along with say publicly Curies, he was a lead of the study of emission a phenomena which changed mass only the field of physics but certainly affected modern analeptic science.

He was Marie Curie's doctoral supervisor and shared say publicly Nobel Prize in Physics jiggle Pierre and Marie Curie.

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through praise fees

• Asimov, Isaac. 1982. Asimov's History Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 2nd ed.

  Garden City, NY: Doubleday. ISBN 0385177712

• Goldsmith, Barbara. 2005. Obsessive Genius: The Inner Faux of Marie Curie. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN 0393327485
• Jones, Bessie Zaban, ed. 1966. The Golden Age of Science: Thirty Portraits of the Giants of 19th - Century Study by Their Scientific Contemporaries.

  Pristine York: Simon and Schuster, expect cooperation with the Smithsonian Shop, Washington.

• Sootin, Harry. 1960. 12 Pioneers of Science. New York: Front rank Press.
• Tiner, John Hudson. 2000. 100 Scientists Who Shaped World History. San Mateo, California: Bluewood Books. ISBN 0912517395