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Birth
Niels Henrik David Bohr was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on October 7th, 1885. -
Bohr's Atomic Model
In July of 1913, Bohr began publishing his model of the atom. His theory developed from Ernest Rutherford's, but used quantum physics to study atoms on a microscopic scale. It suggested that electrons were not circulating the nucleus randomly, but that they were orbiting at designated distances from the nucleus.
He began his theory by comparing hydrogen's structure to the solar system. He decided that the electrons would not follow the rules in magnetism, so he invented new rules- quantum jumps. -
Nobel Prize
In 1922, Bohr was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his work. His work would then be applied to the periodic table of elements by mapping out the electrons of the atoms. Although his model would later be replaced, it provided aid in the experimentation of the element hafnium's behavior.
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Quantum Mechanics
Bohr published his work stating that electrons can be either a particle or a wave. This theory formed the baseline for quantum theory. He specified that choosing the correct tools will lead to a successful experiment. Copenhagen University has memorialized Bohr for his contributions to quantum mechanics. -
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Manhattan Project
In 1943, Bohr left Denmark because of the Nazi occupation. Throughout the next two years, he worked on nuclear weapons in London, and on the atomic bomb in the United States. He contributed to the production of plutonium-239, which was then used to produce the first atomic bomb. The following month, it was used to force Japan's surrender. Although Bohr assisted this project during WWII, he was an advocate and pleaded that atomic physics be used in peace. -
Death
Niels Bohr passed away on November 18, 1962 in Copenhagen. From 1920 until his death, he was the head of the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen. His many works contributed to science: atomic physics, quantum mechanics, and the atomic bomb.