Emil Wiechert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emil Johann Wiechert
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Emil Johann Wiechert
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| Born | 26 December 1861 Tilsit, Province of Prussia, Kingdom of Prussia
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| Died | 19 March 1928 (aged 66) |
| Nationality | German |
| Citizenship | German |
| Alma mater | University of Königsberg, University of Göttingen |
| Known for | Liénard–Wiechert potential Maxwell–Wiechert model Wiechert–Gutenberg discontinuity Wiechert–Herglotz method Independent discovery of electron |
| Awards | Berlin Academy of Science |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics, Geophysics |
| Institutions | Germany |
| Notable students | Karl Bernhard Zoeppritz, Beno Gutenberg |
Emil Johann Wiechert (born December 26, 1861 – died March 19, 1928) was a German physicist and geophysicist. He made many important discoveries in both fields. For example, he created the first good model of Earth's layers. He was also one of the first scientists to discover the electron. Later, he became the world's first Professor of Geophysics at the University of Göttingen.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Emil Wiechert was born in a town called Tilsit. His parents were Johann and Emilie Wiechert. After his father passed away, his mother moved to Königsberg. This allowed Emil to study at the University of Königsberg.
Because of money problems, it took him longer to finish his studies. He finally earned his Ph.D. degree in 1889. By 1896, he became a professor. In 1898, he was given a special job. He became the world's first professor focused on geophysics at the University of Göttingen.
Amazing Discoveries
While at Königsberg, Wiechert studied X-rays. He also found that cathode rays are made of tiny streams of particles. He correctly measured how heavy these particles were compared to their electric charge. However, he didn't quite realize that these particles were a brand new type of tiny particle, which we now call the electron. Another scientist, J.J. Thomson, is usually given credit for discovering the electron.
Wiechert was also very interested in the Earth itself. In 1896, he published a groundbreaking idea. He suggested that the Earth's inside is made of different layers, like an onion. He figured out that the Earth's surface rocks were much lighter than the Earth's average weight. This meant the Earth must have a very heavy core, probably made of iron. His ideas helped one of his students, Beno Gutenberg, discover the Earth's three main layers in 1914.
Building a New Science
A famous mathematician named Felix Klein wanted to make the University of Göttingen a top research center. He convinced Wiechert's teacher, Woldemar Voigt, to move there. Wiechert went with him. Emil Wiechert had hoped to become a professor of theoretical physics. But Klein asked him to start the world's first Institute of Geophysics.
So, in 1898, Wiechert became the world's first Professor of Geophysics. He stayed at Göttingen for the rest of his life. He taught and guided many students who became leading experts. These students included Karl Bernhard Zoeppritz and Beno Gutenberg. They became famous for studying the Earth's movements and structure.
Important Contributions
Wiechert made many other important contributions during his career. He wrote scientific papers about how seismic waves travel through the Earth. Seismic waves are like ripples that move through the ground during an earthquake. He also designed a much better seismograph. This is a tool that records ground movements.
He also created a new way to find things underground. This method used small, man-made earthquakes to explore the geology. Wiechert was also interested in ideas about theoretical physics, like those from Albert Einstein. He discussed ideas about space and energy with other scientists like Hendrik Antoon Lorentz.
Emil Wiechert married Helene Ziebarth in 1908. She was a lawyer's daughter. They did not have any children.
Awards and Recognition
- He became a member of the Berlin Academy of Science in 1912.
- A crater on the Moon is named after him.
See also
- List of geophysicists
