In the twentieth century, a whole galaxy of brilliant scientists appeared, who created the basis of modern physics. Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Ernest Rutherford. It was Rutherford who created the planetary model of the atom and proved its truth.
In 1871, the famous physicist Ehrenst Rutherford was born in New Zealand. The British researcher is rightly considered the father of nuclear physics. In 1911, he proved the existence in the atom of a nucleus with a positive charge and particles with a negative charge around it using the experience of scattering of alpha particles. Based on the results of the experiment, he created a model of the atom.
Education and career Physics
Ernest had an amazing memory. He graduated from elementary school, earning 580 points out of 600. Having received 50 pounds, he continued his studies at Nelson College. From the first days of study at Canterbury College, he became interested in science.
In 1892, Rutherford wrote "Magnetization of Iron in High-Frequency Discharges." He also developed and created a magnetic detector. After graduating from university in 1894, he taught for a year in high school. The most talented young people living in the colonies presented the World Exhibition Scholarship, which allows them to leave for England for further studies. Rutherford received such a scholarship.
He wanted to pass an examination in physics and acquire a master's degree in order to study the radio wave detector. But he did not receive funding from the UK government post at the Cavendish Laboratory.
Fundamental physical discoveries
Ernest Rutherford began working as a tutor, because he did not even have money for food. In 1898, he discovered alpha and beta rays. The first - penetrate a short, the second - a long distance. Rutherford soon discovers that radioactive gas emanates from radioactive thorium, to which he gave the name "emanation." In subsequent studies, it turned out that other radioactive elements also emanate.
Ernest made two reasonable conclusions, which laid the foundation for theoretical particle physics.
Any elements that emit radiation emit alpha and beta rays.
The radiation activity of all substances after a certain time decreases.
Based on these findings, it could be assumed that all radioactive substances are in the same group of atoms and that they can be classified according to the period of decrease in their radioactivity. It was impossible for Rutherford's opponents to convince the researcher that alpha particles and helium nuclei are one and the same. His theory was confirmed when it was discovered that helium, the alleged alpha particle, is contained in radium.
In the summer of that year, Ernest moved forward in a newly discovered study of the phenomenon of radioactivity of substances. In the fall, he assumes the position of professor at McGill University. For an excellent substantiated study on the decomposition of elements of radioactive components receives the Nobel Prize in chemistry.
Proof of the atomic structure of the universe
Having received a well-deserved award, the scientist began to study the most interesting phenomenon that occurred when alpha particles attacked a layer of the finest gold metal. In the atomic model, protons and electrons are equally located in the atom and should not have greatly changed the path of alpha particles. Rutherford saw that some particles deviated from their trajectory much more than expected.
Thinking about this, the scientist soon built another atom model. The new simulator resembled a miniature model of the solar system. Protons (particles with a positive charge) were located in the center of the atom, which was not light, and electrons (particles with a negative charge) were located around the nucleus, inaccessible to it. Later, Rutherford's theory became proven and accepted by everyone.
Worldwide recognition and awards
Ernest Rutherford was initially elected a member of the Royal Society of London, and in 1925 the physicist became its president. He was listed as president of the Institute of Physics from 1931 to 1933. On February 12, 1914, he was knighted by the king at Buckingham Palace and adopted the noble title.
Military career
During the First World War, the physicist became a member of the civil committee of the Office of Inventions and Research of the British Admiralty. He investigated the issue of detecting the coordinates of submarines. At the end of the war he returned to his favorite laboratory. In 1919 he made a grand breakthrough in science. In the process of studying the structures of hydrogen atoms, a signal appeared on the detector, which is explained by the fact that the nucleus of the atom of the element ceased to stand still due to the shock of the alpha particle.
In 1933, worried about Adolf Hitler’s policies, Ernest Rutherford became president of the Academic Relief Council, created to help German refugees.
