Charles Drummond Ellis facts for kids
Charles Drummond Ellis was a brilliant physicist (a scientist who studies how the world works). He was born in Hampstead, England, on August 11, 1895, and passed away on January 10, 1980. His important work helped other scientists understand the tiny parts that make up everything, especially the inside of an atom.
Contents
Early Life and Unexpected Schooling
Charles Ellis grew up in London. His father was in charge of the Metropolitan Railway, which is like a big train system. Charles went to Harrow School, a famous school where he was great at all his subjects and also good at sports. In 1913, he joined the Royal Military Academy because he wanted to become an engineer in the army.
A War Holiday Turns into Study Time
In the summer of 1914, Charles was on holiday in Germany. Suddenly, World War I started! All British people in Germany were sent to a special camp called Ruhleben P.O.W. Camp, near Berlin. This camp used to be a horse racecourse. The people staying there lived in horse stables, with many people in each small horse box.
Even though it was a tough situation, the people in the camp were allowed to do many things to keep busy. They could get books, and Charles used this time to study a lot. Another scientist named James Chadwick was also in the camp. Chadwick taught Charles a great deal about science. Together, they even made a small laboratory in one of the horse stables! They did science experiments there, learning about how light can cause chemical changes.
Life After the War
After the war ended, Charles Ellis decided to study at Trinity College, Cambridge, one of the best universities in England. After he finished his studies in 1920, he started doing research at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. This lab was led by a very famous scientist named Sir Ernest Rutherford. James Chadwick, Charles's friend from the camp, also worked there.
In 1921, Charles became a special member of Trinity College and started teaching natural science. In 1929, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society, which is a very old and important group for scientists.
A Famous Science Book
In 1930, Charles Ellis, along with Sir Ernest Rutherford and James Chadwick, wrote a very important book together. It was called Radiations from Radioactive Substances. This book helped many scientists understand more about how certain materials give off energy.
Big Discoveries in Physics
In the early 1930s, Charles Ellis worked on some very important ideas about energy. He studied something called beta decay, which is how some atoms change by giving off tiny particles.
Finding the Neutrino
During his research, Charles Ellis helped discover a tiny particle called the neutrino. Neutrinos are so small and have almost no mass, so they are very hard to find! This discovery was a big step in understanding the universe. He also worked with another scientist, W.J. Henderson, to study how other tiny particles, called positrons, behave. Later, Charles became a professor at the University of London.
Helping During World War II
During World War II, Charles Ellis used his knowledge of physics to help his country. He worked on ideas about how to use nuclear fission (splitting atoms) to create new kinds of weapons. From 1943 to 1946, he was a scientific adviser to the army. For his important work during the war, he was given the special title of Sir in 1946.
Later Career and Legacy
After World War II, Sir Charles Ellis took on different jobs that were not about nuclear weapons. He gave scientific advice to the National Coal Board (which managed coal mines) and to the British American Tobacco Company. This was a time when people were just starting to realize that smoking could be bad for your health.
Sir Charles Drummond Ellis passed away in 1980 after a short illness. He is remembered as a brilliant physicist who made important discoveries and helped his country during wartime.
Images for kids
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Sir Charles Drummond Ellis, FRS by Andrew Freeth
