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Physics Timeline

Dates
500 1 BC 1 1300 AD 1301 1499 1500 1599 1600 1650 1651 1699 1700 1750 1751 1799 1800 1830 1831 1860 1861 1899 1900 1920 1921 1940 1941 1960 1961 1980 1981 1999 2000 Now

Characters
Archimedes, Aristotle Al-hazen, Ptolemy in Egypt

Theories and discoveries


Heliocentric theory, geometry Optics, geocentric theory

Leonardo de Vinci, Nicolas Cusanus Earth is in motion,Occams Razor Nicolaus Copernicus,Tycho Brahe Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle Daniel Bernoulli, Edmund Halley Coulomb, Henry Cavendish Thomas Young, Michael Faraday Lord Kelvin, James Clerk Maxwell Heliocentric theory revived, astronomy Telescope,laws of planetary motion Newtons Laws, optics, Gas Laws Thermodynamics, corpuscular theory Gravitational constant, specific heats Interference of light, magnetic field Theory of heat, Doppler Effect

Wilhelm Roentgen, Henri Becquerel The ether, X-rays, radioactivity Max Planck, Albert Einstein Enrico Fermi, Werner Heisenberg Richard Feynman, Edward Teller Quantum Mechanics, special relativity Accelerators,uncertainty principle Nuclear Bomb, Lasers, the big bang

Murray Gell-Mann, Stephen Hawking First man on the moon, black holes Carlo Rubbia, Alan Guth Michio Kaku, John Beamish CERN, Hubble Space Telescope Tau Neutrino, Keck Telescope

Physics Timeline 1831 1860


Dates Characters
1831 1831 1831 1831 1833 1833 1834 1834 1834 1834 1835 1838 1839 1840 1840 1840 1841 1842 1842 1843 1843 1844 1845 1845 1846 1846 1846 1846 1847 1848 1848 1849 1850 1850 Michael Faraday Michael Faraday Michael Faraday Michael Faraday Michael Faraday Joseph Henry Emile Clapeyron John Scott Russell William Hamilton Heinrich Lenz Gustav-Gaspard Coriolis Bessel, Henderson Karl Mosander Rive Marcet Joule and Helmholtz Auguste Comte Eugene-Melchoir Peligot Christian Doppler Justin von Mayer James Joule Howard Aiken Kark Klaus Michael Faraday Christopher Buys-Ballet Adams, Le Verrier Gustav Kirchhoff William Thomson (Kelvin) Jahanne Galle Hermann von Helmholtz William Thomson (Kelvin) James Joule Armand Fizeau Rudolf Clausius Jean Foucault

Theories and discoveries


A moving magnet induces an electric current Magnetic lines of force The electric dynamo The electric transformer Laws of electrolysis Self inductance Entropy Observed solitary waves in a canal Principle of least action and Hamiltonian mechanics Law of electromagnetic forces Coriolis force First measurements of distance to a star by parallax Lanthanum discovered Anomolous specific heat of diamond Electricity is a form of energy Suggests that nature and composition of stars will never be known Isolation of element uranium Theory of Doppler Effect for sound and light Conservation of heat and mechanical energy Mechanical and electrical equivalent of heat First mechanical programable calculator Element 44, ruthenium discovered Rotation of polarised light by magnetism Confirmation of Doppler effect for sound using trumpeters on a train Predicted position of Neptune Kirchoffs laws of electrical networks Incorrectly estimates Earth to be 100 million years old by heat Neptune discovered Conservation of energy in Newtionian mechanics and gravity Absolute temperature scale Average velocity of gas molecules from kinetic theory Found the velocity of light in the laboratory using a toothed wheel Generalised second law of thermodynamics Light travels slower in water than in air

1850 1851 1851 1851 1851 1851 1852 1852 1853 1854 1854 1854 1855 1855 1857 1858 1858 1859 1859 1859 1860 1860

Michael Faraday

Experiments to find link between gravity and electromagnetism fail

William Thomson (Lord Kelvin)Dynamical theory of heat William Thomson (Lord Kelvin)Absolute zero temperature Armand Fizeau Franz Neumann Jean Foucault Jean Foucault Joule, Thomson Anders Angstrom Hermann von Helmholtz Bernhard Riemann George Airy William Parsons James Clerk Maxwell James Clerk Maxwell Wallace and Darwin Balfour Stewart Hittorf and Plucker Bunsen and Kirchhoff Urbain Le Verrier Gustav Kirchhoff Maxwell and Waterston Velocity of light in moving medium Laws of electric-magnetic induction Demonstrates rotation of Earth with a pendulum First gyroscope An expanding gas cools Measured hydrogen spectral lines Heat death of the universe Possibility of space curvature on small or large scales Estimate of Earth mass from underground gravity Spiral galaxies Mathematics of Faradays lines of force Nature of Saturns rings Natural selection of species Conjecture equivalent to Kirchoffs law Cathode rays Measurement of spectral line frequencies Anomolous perihelion shift of Mercury Kirchoffs Law and black body problem Equipartition theorem of statistical mechanics

Physics Timeline 1861 1899


Dates
1861 1861 1861 1862 1863 1863 1864 1864 1865 1867 1867 1868 1868

Characters

Theories and discoveries

von Bunsen, Kirchhoff Elements caesium and rubidium found in spectra William Crookes Element thallium found by its spectra Johann Madler Olberss paradox would be resolved if the universe had a finite age Anders Angstrom William Huggins Observed hydrogen in the sun Stellar spectra indicate that stars are made of same elements found on Earth Reich, Richter Element indium from its spectra John Newlands Chemical law of octaves James Clerk Maxwell Equations of electromagnetic wave propagation in the ether Rudolf Clausius Introduction of the term entropy James Clerk Maxwell Statistical physics and thermal equilibrium Henry Roscoe Isolation of element vanadium Pierre-Jules Janssen Lockyer, Crookes Lines of helium observed in the suns spectrum Element helium recognised and named

1868 1869 1871 1871 1871 1872 1873 1873 1874 1875 1875 1877 1877 1877 1877 1878 1879 1879 1879 1879 1880 1881 1881 1883 1883 1883 1884 1885 1885 1886 1886 1887 1887 1887 1887 1887 1889 1889 1890 1892

William Huggins Dmitri Mendeleyev Dmitri Mendeleyev

Doppler shifts of stellar spectra Periodic table of elements Prediction of elements: scandium, germanium, technetium, francium & gallium

Ludwig Boltzmann Classical explanation of Dulong-Petit specific heats Tyndall and Rayleigh Light scattering and why the sky is blue Ludwig Boltzmann H-theorem James Clerk Maxwell Electromagnetic nature of light and prediction of radio waves Johannes van der Waals George Stoney Intermolecular forces in fluids Estimated the unit of charge and named it the electron

Heinrich Weber Apecific heat curves of solids James Clerk Maxwell Atoms must have a structure Johann Loschmidt Ludwig Boltzmann Asaph Hall Cailletet and Pictet Josiah Willard Gibbs Josef Stefan Lars Fredrik Nilson Willaim Crookes Albert Michelson Pierre & Jacques Curie Albert Michelson Josiah Willard Gibbs Ivan Puluy Thomas Edison George Fitzgerald Ludwig Boltzmann Johann Balmer James Dewar Henri Moissan Clemens Winkler Heinrich Hertz Questions validity of second law for time symmetric dynamics Boltzmanns probability equation for entropy Two moons of Mars Liquid oxygen and nitrogen Thermodynamics of chemistry and phase changes Empirical discovery of total radiation law, (Stefans law) Element scandium discovered Cathode rays may be negatively charged particles Improved measurements of the speed of light Piezoelectricity Light interferometer and absence of ether drift Vector algebra Prior discovery of X-rays Thermionic emission Theory of radio transmission Derivation of Stefans law for black bodies Empirical formula for hydrogen spectral lines Vacuum flask invented Element fluorine discovered Element germanium discovered Transmission, reception and reflection of radio waves

Michelson and Morley Absence of ether drift Michelson and Morley Fine structure of hydrogen spectrum Hertz, Hallwachs Photoelectric effect Woldemar Voigt George Fitzgerald Rolond von Eotvos Johannes Rydberg Hendrick Lorentz Anticipated Lorentz transform to derive Doppler shift Length contraction Torsion balance to test equivalence of inertial and gravitational mass Empirical formulae for spectral lines and Rydberg constant Theory that electricity is due to charged particles

1893 1893 1893 1894 1894 1894 1894 1895 1895 1895 1895 1895 1895 1895 1896 1896 1896 1897 1897 1897 1897 1898 1898 1898 1898 1898 1898 1898 1899 1899 1899

Ernst Mach Wilhelm Wien Oliver Lodge Heinrich Hertz James Dewar Pierre Curie Ramsay,Cleve &

Influence of all the mass in the universe determines what is natural motion Derivation of black body displacement law Ether could not be carried along by matter Radio waves travel at speed of light and can be refracted and polarised Liquid oxygen Why are there no magnetic monopoles?

Rayleigh and Ramsey Element argon discovered

Langlet Isolation of helium from uranium ore Wilhelm Roentgen X-rays Korteweg & de Vries Explanation of solitary waves Jean-Baptiste Perrin Pierre Curie Hendrick Lorentz Cathode rays are negative particles Loss of magnetism at high temperature,(Curie point) First form of Lorentz transformation

Hendrick Lorentz Electromagnetic force on a charged particle Wilhelm Wien Conjectured exponential black body law Pieter Zeeman Spectral line splitting by magnetic field Antoine Becquerel Natural radioactivity in uranium ore Ludwig Boltzmann Time reversal symmetry of electromagnetism Friedrich Paschen Verification of Wiens black body law at long wavelengths Kaufmann, JJ Thomson Measurement of electron charge to mass ratio by deflection of cathode rays Weichert, JJ Thomson Conjectured existence of light electron James Dewar Liquid hydrogen Guglielmo Marconi Transmission of signals across the English channel Pierre and Marie CurieSeparation of radioactive elements, radium and polonium Ramsey and Travers Neon, krypton, xenon Joseph Larmor Complete form of Lorentz transformation Henri Poincare Questions absolute time and simultaniety Ernest Rutherford Alpha and beta radiation Joseph John Thomson Measurement of the charge and mass of the electron Andre Debierne Element actinium Universal scale of measurment from fundamental Max Planck constants

Physics Timeline 1900 1920


Dates Characters
1900 1900 1900 1900 Lord Rayleigh Ernest Rutherford Antoine Henri Becquerel Lummer, Pringsheim,

Theories and discoveries


Statistical derivation of short wavelength black body law First determination of a radioactive half-life Suggests that beta rays are electrons Failure of Wiens black body law at short wavelengths

Rubens, Kurlbaum 1900 1900 1900 1900 Max Planck Paul Villard Friedrich Dorn Pyotr Lebedev Light quanta in black body radiation, Plancks black body law & constant Gamma rays Element 86, radon Radiation pressure measured Determination of Plancks constant, Boltzmanns constant, Avogadros number and 1901 1901 1902 1902 1902 1903 1903 1903 1903 1904 1904 1904 1904 1904 1904 1905 1905 1905 1905 1905 1905 1905 1905 1906 1906 1906 1906 1907 1907 1908 1908 Max Planck Guglielmo Marconi Philipp Lenard Rutherford and Soddy Kelvin, Thomson Ernest Rutherford Curie and Laborde Johannes Stark Philipp Lenard Albert Einstein Hendrik Lorentz Hantaro Nagaoka Ambrose Flemming Henri Poincare Ernest Rutherford Albert Einstein Albert Einstein Albert Einstein Paul Langevin Percival Lowell Bragg and Kleeman Hermann Nernst Albert Einstein Albert Einstein Joseph Thomson Ernest Rutherford Lee de Forest Albert Einstein Urbain & von Welsbach Hermann Minkowski Hans Geiger the charge on electron Transmission of Morse signals across the Atlantic Intensity law in photoelectric effect Theory of transmutation by radiation and first use of the term atomic energy Plum pudding model of the atom Alpha particles have a positive charge Radioactive energy released by radium is large The power of the sun may be due to genesis of chemical elements Model of atom as two separated opposite charges Energy-frequency relation of light quanta The completed Lorentz transformations Planetary model of the atom Diode valve and rectifier Conjectured light speed as physical limit Age of Earth by radioactvity dating Explains Brownian motion by kinetic theory Light-quantum theory for photoelectric law Special relativity Atomic theory of paramagnetism Postulates a ninth planet beyond Neptune Alpha-particles have discrete energies Third law of thermodynamics Equivalence of mass and energy Quantum explanation of specific heat laws for solids Thomson scattering of X-ray photons and number of electrons in an atom Alpha particles scatter in air Triode valve Equivalence principle and gravitational redshift Element 71, lutetium geometric unification of space and time Geiger counter for detecting radioactivity

1908 1908 1909 1909 1909 1909 1910 1910 1910 1911 1911 1911 1912 1912 1912 1912 1912 1912 1912 1912 1912 1913 1913 1913 1913 1913 1913 1913 1913 1914

Heike Kammerlingh-Onnes Liquid helium Geiger, Royds, Rutherford Albert Einstein Johannes Stark Geiger and Marsden Robert Millikan Albert Einstein Matthew Hunter Theodor Wulf Victor Hess Identify alpha particles as helium nuclei Particle-wave duality of photons Momentum of photons Anomolous scattering of alpha particles on gold foil Measured the charge on the electron Why the sky is blue Isolation of element titanium Excess atmospheric radiation High altitude radiation from space

Heike Kammerlingh-Onnes Superconductivity Ernest Rutherford Joseph Thomson Henrietta Leavitt Robert Millikan Peter Debye Charles Wilson Max Von Laue Albert Einstein Vesto Melvin Slipher Gustav Mie Niels Bohr Niels Bohr Jean-Baptiste Perrin Fajans and Gohring Bragg and Bragg Hans Geiger Johannes Stark, Frederick Soddy James Chadwick Infers the nucleus from the alpha scattering result Mass spectrometry and separation of isotopes Period to luminosity relationship for Cepheid variable stars Measurement of Plancks constant Derivation of specific heat laws to low temperatures Cloud chamber X-rays are explained as electromagnetic radiation by diffraction Curvature of space-time Observes blue-shift of andromeda galaxy Non-linear field theories Quantum theory of atomic orbits Radioactivity as nuclear property Theory of size of atoms and molecules Element 91, protactinium X-ray diffraction and crystal structure Relation of atomic number to nuclear charge Splitting of hydrogen spectral lines in electric field The term isotope Primary beta spectrum is continuous and shows an energy anomaly Used X-rays to confirm the correspondence between electric charge of nucleus and

1914 1914

Harry Moseley Ejnar Hertzsprung Rutherford, da Costa

atomic number Measured distance to Large Magellanic Cloud using Cepheid variable stars

1914 1915 1915

Andrade Albert Einstein David Hilbert

Gamma rays identified as hard photons General relativity Action principle for gravitational field equations

1915 1916 1916 1916

Albert Einstein Robert Millikan Albert Einstein Albert Einstein

Prediction of light bending and explanation for perihelion shift of mercury Verification of energy law in photoelectric effect Prediction of gravitational waves Conservation of energy-momentum in general relativity Singular static solution of gravitational field equations which describes a minimal

1916

Karl Schwarzschild

black hole Further atomic quantum numbers and fine structure of spectra, fine structure

1916 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1918 1918 1918

Arnold Sommerfeld Harlow Shapley Albert Einstein Vesto Melvin Slipher Albert Einstein Willem de Sitter Arthur Eddington Rutherford, Marsden Harlow Shapley Harlow Shapley Reissner and Nordstrom

constant Estimates the diameter of the galaxy as 100000 parsecs Introduction of the cosmological constant and a steady state model of the universe Observes that most galaxies have red-shifts Theory of stimulated emission and loss of determinism Describes a model of a static universe with no matter Gravitational energy is insufficient to account for the energy output of stars Artificial transmutation, hydrogen and oxygen from nitrogen Measured distance to globular clusters using Cepheid variable stars Determined the size and shape of our galaxy Solution of Einsteins equations which describe a charged black hole The mathematical relationships between symmetry and conservation laws in

1918 1918 1918 1919 1919 1919 1919 1919 1920 1920 1920 1920

Emmy Noether Francis Aston Herman Weyl Ernest Rutherford Oliver Lodge Francis Aston Crommelin Eddington Arthur Eddington Ernest Rutherford Anderson, Michelson Harkins, Eddington Shapley and Curtis

classical physics Mass spectrometer Guage theory Existence of the proton in nucleus Prediction of gravitational lensing Hydrogen fusion to helium will release a lot of energy Verification of Einsteins prediction of starlight deflection during an eclipse Predicts the size of red gaints using stellar models Prediction of neutron Pease, size of star Betelgeuse using stellar interferometry Fusion of hydrogen could be the energy source of stars The Great Debate over the scale and structure of the universe

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