-
Birth
Christian and Ellen Bohr had three children the second being Niels Bohr. Throughout his life, Niels dreamed of becoming a physicist, like his father.
(Aaserud, 2022) -
Education
Niels studied physics at the Polytechnic Institute.
(Aaserud, 2022) -
Degree
After writing a dissertation on electron theory of metals, Niels achieved his doctorate degree in physics.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Period: to
The Atomic Model
Bohr introduced to the world the atomic model we are familiar with today. There is a positive charge nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons floating at a distance from the nucleus. This was published and had great backlash due to the thought there would be too much instability in such a model.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Married life
Niels married Margrethe Norlund and together they had six sons.
(Aaserud, 2022) -
Period: to
Studies of the Periodic Table
Niels applied his theory of atoms to the periodic table. He added electrons to each element to help describe how they acted and reacted.
(Aaserud, 2022) -
Employment
Niels was offered a professor position at the University of Copenhagen. This was one of only two professor positions in physics at the university.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Proposal for a New Department
Niels offered a proposal to the university to open a program for theoretical physics.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Inauguration
The Institute for Theortical Physics was opened, and Niels made an inaugural speech declaring his hopes for the new institute, one of which would allow new physicists to explore both old and new theories around physics.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Nobel Prize
Because of his work on the periodic table, Niels was awarded the Nobel Prize.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Period: to
Conversations on Bohr's Theories
Throughout the span of approximately five years, there were many conversations over the theories Niels was studying. One of these theories even caught the attention of Einstein, and after Einstein made his own comments on Niels' theories, Niels continued to improve his thoughts revolving his ideas.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Complementarity and Philosophy pt1
Neils contributed to the constantly changing ideas surrounding the philosophy of physics with his idea of complementarity. This idea says that two (or more) rules surrounding the same subject can in fact both (or all) be true. He explains that rather than trying to make sense of the rules both individually and as a whole. They may either validate each other as a whole, or only make logical sense individually.
(Loeffler, 2018). -
Complementarity and Philosophy Pt 2
Einstein challenged Niels’ ideas on complementarity because he had a hard time grasping the uncertainty surround the idea, when his own studies were based off of ideas that could be studied. Niels’ idea of complementarity stirred the pot of the philosophy of physics because physics had previously been a subject in which everything was able to be studied, with a solid set of rules.
(Loeffler, 2018). -
Complementarity and Philosophy pt 4
Niels faced much backlash for proposing his theory of complementarity. Many physicists would respond saying his theory couldn’t be possible because of reasons that were never mentioned by Niels. He would then explain, repeatedly, what he was truly saying, in order to get his point across.
(Loeffler, 2018). -
Complementarity and Philosophy pt 3
Shrodinger also criticized Niels’ idea of complementarity. In his attempt to disprove Niels’ thoughts on the subject he used his own ideas of the cat in the box and radioactive decay of atoms, which said that before opening the box, the atom is both decayed and not decayed, and therefore the cat is both dead and alive, until you open that box. In using this to try to disprove Niels, Shrodinger actually helped to prove his ideas.
(Loeffler, 2018). -
Period: to
Splitting the Atom
Niels raised the funds to obtain a cyclotron to further investigate atoms. Once he received the funds, he dove further into research after theories that the uranium atom could be split.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Refugees from WWII
Neils used his available resources to move physicists out of Nazi Germany, and give them time to find refuge elsewhere, many times within the US.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Period: to
Talks of the Atomic Bomb
Niels became aware of the beginning developments for an atomic bomb, but did not believe it would have been successfully made until well after the conclusion of World War II. In 1943, however, Niels received correspondence from a British colleague. The correspondence was vague, but Niels understood the concept that it was in relation to the atomic bomb, and still did not waiver in his theory it wouldn't be successful for quite some time.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Bohr's Imminent Arrest
Due to the deterioration of the Danish and German governments alliance, Niels was at risk for arrest. He fled with his family after another invitation to England. He was joined by one of his sons shortly after, who also also studying physics. Upon their arrival to England, Niels was briefed on the studies so far, and with concerns that Germany was not far behind, joined the Allies in research on the atomic bomb.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
The Atomic Bomb
The atomic bomb was successfully created, and implemented, and at the conclusion of World War II, Niels and his family returned home to Copenhagen.
(Aaserud, 2022). -
Period: to
The Remainder of His Life
After the return home, Niels continued to study and teach physics. He opened another institute to revolve around theoretical physics. -
Death
Niels passed in his hometown of Copenhagen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do3r1dKEogA