Emil Lenz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emil Lenz
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| Born | 12 February 1804 Dorpat, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire
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| Died | 10 February 1865 (aged 60) |
| Alma mater | University of Tartu |
| Known for | Lenz's law, Joule–Lenz law |
Emil Lenz (born Heinrich Friedrich Emil Lenz) was a smart Russian physicist. He was born on February 12, 1804, and passed away on February 10, 1865. He is best known for creating something called Lenz's law in 1834. This law helps us understand how electricity and magnetism work together.
Contents
About Emil Lenz's Life
Early Life and Education
Emil Lenz was born in a city called Dorpat. Today, this city is known as Tartu in Estonia. Back then, it was part of the Russian Empire.
After finishing high school in 1820, Emil Lenz went to the University of Dorpat. There, he studied important subjects like chemistry and physics.
Exploring the World
From 1823 to 1826, Lenz went on an amazing trip around the world. He traveled with a famous navigator named Otto von Kotzebue. During this journey, Lenz studied the weather and how salty ocean water behaves. He wrote down all his findings, and they were published in 1831.
Working at the University
After his big trip, Lenz started working at the University of St. Petersburg, Russia. He became a very important person there. From 1840 to 1863, he was the Dean of Mathematics and Physics. This meant he was in charge of those subjects. Later, from 1863 until he died in 1865, he was the Rector. This is like being the president of the university.
Lenz also taught at other schools. He taught at the Petrischule in 1830 and 1831. He also taught at the Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy.
Discoveries and Contributions
Lenz's Law Explained
Emil Lenz started studying electromagnetism in 1831. This is the study of how electricity and magnetism are connected. In 1834, he came up with a very important rule known as Lenz's law.
This law helps explain how electric currents are created when a magnetic field changes. It basically says that the electric current will always try to work against the change that caused it. It's a bit like nature trying to keep things balanced!
The Joule–Lenz Law
Lenz made another big discovery in 1842. He independently found out about something called Joule's law. This law explains how heat is produced when electricity flows through something.
Another scientist named James Prescott Joule also discovered this law. To honor both their hard work, it is now called the "Joule–Lenz law."
Helping Electroplating Grow
Emil Lenz was also very interested in a new technology called electroplating. This is a way to coat one metal with a thin layer of another metal using electricity. His friend and colleague, Moritz von Jacobi, invented this method.
Lenz was excited about it and helped develop it further. In 1839, he used electroplating to make several medallions. These were some of the very first sculptures made using this new "galvanoplastic" method.
Later Life and Legacy
Emil Lenz sadly passed away in Rome. He had a brain hemorrhage, which is a type of bleeding in the brain.
To remember his important work, there is a small crater on the far side of the moon named after him.
See also
In Spanish: Heinrich Lenz para niños
