Famous Scientists and Famous Scientists and their contributionstheir contributions

Shara Markose

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION•Scientist, in a broad sense, is a

person engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge.

•So many people in this world have changed the way we live and think,

with their inventions and work. Here is a list of some of the famous

scientists in history, and a brief about them.

Niels BohrNiels Bohr

1885-1962Known for the

Bohr model of the atom ◦Electrons travel

around nucleus in restricted orbits

Won Nobel prize in physics in 1922

Born in Copenhagen in 1885Researched structure of the atomFirst to postulate that electrons travel

around nucleus of atomPredicted splitting of uranium atomsGave lectures, never “boring”

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein

1879-1955Postulated photons

travel in discreet energy packets (individual photons)

Theories of special and general relativity

Nobel prize in physics, 1921

Born in Württemberg, Germany, 1879Postulated light travels in individual

photons, 1905Wrote special theory of relativity 1905Wrote general theory of relativity 1916E = mc2

Henri Becquerel Henri Becquerel

1852-1908Known for his

discovery of natural radiation in uranium

Shared Nobel Prize with the Curies in 1903

Born 1852 in ParisDiscovered natural radiation in uranium

in 1896Unit of radiation named after1 disintigration/second = 1 Bq“Oh Henry!”

Enrico FermiEnrico Fermi1901-1954Discovered

neutrino and neutron activation

Work led to fission and controlled nuclear reaction

Nobel prize physics, 1938

Born in Rome, 1901Contributed to early theory of beta

decay and neutrinoDemonstrated nuclear transformation

with neutrons in elementsLed experiment that performed first

controlled nuclear reactionVery “fair to me”

Sir Ernest Rutherford Sir Ernest Rutherford

1871-1937Discovered alpha

and beta particlesDiscovered

nucleus in 1910Won Nobel prize

in chemistry, 1908

Born in Nelson, New Zealand, 1871Discovered alpha and beta particles in

1898Devised method of counting alpha

particles with H GeigerInvestigations of alpha scattering in

1910 led to the discovery of the nucleusKnighted in 1914

Marie Curie Marie Curie

1867-1934Known for her

discovering and separating radium and polonium

Shared Nobel prize in physics, 1903 and full prize in chemistry, 1911 ◦ (First to receive two

prizes)

Born in Warsaw, 1867Discovered radium and polonium and

developed means to separate itRefused to patent work for moneyDeveloped unit of radioactivity

◦1 Ci = 37,000,000,000 disintigrations/secThere was no “cure” for her radiation

ConclusionConclusionThe world will always be indebted to these

great individuals, who with their outstanding work, contributed to mankind in a way that will never be forgotten. The list of famous scientists in history could go on and on, because there are so many other great

scientists that are worth a mention, but the ones mentioned above are by far those who cannot be compared with anyone else. Their work and contribution to this world is simply

unique.

Thank youThank you