-
Education
In 1903 Bohr entered Copenhagen University where studying under Physicist Christan Christansen he first encountered Max Planck's theory of Quantum Radiation. Bohr received his doctorate in Physics in 1911.
Bohr then traveled to England to work under Thompson hoping to work more on his "Electrons in Metals" dissertation but quickly learned Thompson was no longer interested in electrons. While in England Bohr met James Rutherford and while under him learned about the properties of atoms. -
Atomic Strcture
Bohr then used the knowledge he gained from Thompson and Planck's Quantum theory to explained what happens inside an atom and define its structure.
Using hydrogen Bohr was able to create an atomic structure with small positively charged nucleus with electrons orbiting around it. He also determined the number of orbiting electrons defined the properties of an element. He realized an electron could jump from a high orbit to a low one giving off energy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm2C0ovz-3M -
Institute for Theoretical Physics
In 1920 Niels Bohr became the head of the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Copenhagen University making it the world leader in the study of Quantum Mechanics. At the Institute Bohr set out to solve two problems, the development of a consistent quantum theory to replace classical mechanics and electrodynamics. -
Solvay Conference
In 1927 the Solvay Conference was held on quantum mechanics and to discuss how to reconcile contradictions in observational data. Shrodinger, DeBrogile,Einstein and Bohr were among the twenty nine in attendance. Bohr Proposed that electrons didn't "actually exist as particles until someone went looking for them" Einstein did not agree and this sparked a lifetime of debates between the two.
check out this Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YckNrMfLMOs -
The Droplet model
In 1936 Bohr introduced the droplet model which proposed a droplet of fluid would behave like the nucleons of an atom and led to the belief that atoms might elongate and divide. The droplet model states that because the nuclei have a near constant density the nuclear radius can be calculated the same way you would calculate the density of a drop of fluid. Three years later scientists split an atom of uranium. This ultimately led to the development of fission and the atomic bomb. -
Summary
In Summation Niels Bohr was fundamental to the foundation of the science Quantum Mechanics and Quantum theory. In 1922 he received a Nobel Prize for his advancements in the study of atomic structure which ultimately helped usher in the atomic age. Niels Bohr was a Philosopher and scientific researcher whose legacy rivals the likes of Albert Einstein and other scientific greats and will not soon be forgotten. -
Major Works of Niels Bohr
The following is a list with MLA citations of some of Bohr's work
1) "On The Quantum Theory of line-spectra"
Bohr, Niels. On the Quantum Theory of Line-Spectra. A. F. Høst,, 1918. Web.
2)"The theory of spectra and atomic constitution: three essays"
Bohr, Niels. The Theory of Spectra and Atomic Constitution: Three Essays. University Press,, 1922. Web.
3)"Causality and Complementarity"
Bohr, Niels. “Causality and Complementarity.” Philosophy of Science 4.3 (1937): 289–298. Print.
