Let the Wild Rumpus Start!: Max of the week: Max Planck

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Max of the week: Max Planck

Name: Max Planck (1858-1947)
From: Quantum Theory
About: Max Planck was a great physicist recognized as the founder of quantum theory. Quantum theory recognizes that energy is only transmitted in fixed increments, or "quanta," defined by the wavelength of the radiation and a fixed unit known as the Planck constant. This upended classical models of physics that assumed energy flowed continuously (like a stream). Plack's work led to a whole set of Planck units, and paved the way for other achievements like Einstein's theory of relativity and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Ironically, though, Planck initially doubted his own work and that of his colleagues, because the quantum view of the universe was so different from what he had learned and expected. Planck received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1918 for his work on quantum theory. He remained in Germany throughout World War I and World War II, and died in 1947. His legacy lives on in the Max Planck Society, among other institutions.
Quote: "A scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it."
Connection: Jen's great-great(-great?) grandfather was Theodor Escherich, a famous German scientist who discovered the Escherichia coli bacteria (which was named for him after his death). That doesn't have much to do with quantum mechanics, but it is pretty cool, and they were both German scientists so that ought to count. Jonathan doesn't have much standing here, since the worst grade of his academic career came in the 2nd semester of physics his sophomore year of college, when he was distracted by directing a play and discovering the Internet. He barely attended class and thus barely understood electromagnetism. Someday he will finally figure out how to do math with closed-surface integrals, and move on to quantum mechanics from there.
Meta: Max Planck's son Erwin was implicated in the plot to kill Hitler and executed in 1945. (Yes, the same plot in Bryan Singer's upcoming Tom Cruise movie Valkyrie.) Nobody needs to see another picture of Tom Cruise so here is Max Planck's son Erwin instead: