Bertram Hopkinson facts for kids
Bertram Hopkinson (born January 11, 1874 – died August 26, 1918) was a brilliant British engineer and professor. He taught at Cambridge University. He was also a pioneer in designing the internal combustion engine. This is the type of engine found in many cars and machines.
He studied things like flames, explosions, and how metals behave. His work helped us understand engines better.
Contents
Early Life and a Big Change
Bertram Hopkinson was born in Birmingham, England, in 1874. His father, John Hopkinson, was a famous electrical engineer.
Bertram first studied law at Trinity College, Cambridge. After finishing his studies, he became a lawyer. However, a sad event changed his path. In 1898, his father, brother, and two sisters died in a climbing accident. After this, Bertram decided to switch his career to engineering.
A Career in Engineering
In 1903, Hopkinson became a professor at Cambridge University. He taught about how machines work and how to apply mechanics. In 1910, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very important group for scientists.
War Work and Discoveries
During World War I, Bertram Hopkinson joined the Royal Engineers. This was a part of the British Army. He set up a special research center at a place called Orford Ness.
At this center, he and his team studied weapons. They looked at things like gun sights and ammunition. In 1915, Hopkinson made an important discovery. He found a way to compare the effects of different sizes of explosive charges. This meant he could predict how much damage an explosion would cause at a certain distance.
Another scientist, Karl Julius Cranz, found the same rule later in Germany.
A Tragic End
Bertram Hopkinson also learned how to fly airplanes. Sadly, he died on August 26, 1918. His plane, a Bristol F.2 Fighter, crashed while he was flying from one air base to London.
He is buried in the Parish of the Ascension Burial Ground in Cambridge. His wife, Mariana, is buried there too. They had seven daughters.
See also
- Split-Hopkinson pressure bar
