Fritz Ursell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fritz J. Ursell
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| Born | 28 April 1923 |
| Died | 11 May 2012 (aged 89) |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Known for | Ursell number |
| Awards | Fellow of the Royal Society (1972) Georg Weinblum Lectureship (1985–1986) IMA Gold Medal (1994) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Applied mathematics |
| Institutions | University of Manchester University of Cambridge |
| Doctoral students | J. N. Newman E. O. Tuck David Evans |
Fritz Joseph Ursell (born April 28, 1923 – died May 11, 2012) was a smart British mathematician. He was known for his work with fluid mechanics. This is the study of how liquids and gases move. He especially looked at how waves interact with objects.
Fritz Ursell was a professor at the University of Manchester. He held a special position called the Beyer Chair of Applied Mathematics from 1961 to 1990. In 1972, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very important group for scientists.
Early Life and Education
Fritz Ursell was born in Germany. He came to England in 1937 as a Jewish refugee. This means he had to leave his home because of danger.
From 1941 to 1943, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He earned a bachelor degree in mathematics there.
A Career in Mathematics
In late 1943, Ursell joined the British Admiralty. This was a part of the British government that dealt with the navy. He worked with a team led by George Deacon. Their job was to figure out how to predict waves. This was important for the Allied forces landing in Japan during World War II. Their ideas became the basis for how we predict waves today.
Ursell stayed with the Admiralty until 1947. After that, he got a special research job at Manchester University. He did not have a doctorate degree yet, but he was very talented.
In 1950, he went back to Cambridge University. There, he worked as a lecturer, teaching students. He also met another famous scientist, G. I. Taylor. In 1957, he spent a year in the United States. He was invited to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1961, Ursell returned to Manchester University.
In 1994, Fritz Ursell received a special award. It was the Gold Medal from the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. He got this award for his amazing work in mathematics over many years.
Important Scientific Work
In 1957, Fritz Ursell published an important paper. He wrote it with Clive R. Chester and Bernard Friedman. This paper introduced a new way to solve complex math problems. This method is now called the method of Chester–Friedman–Ursell. It helps scientists understand how certain math equations behave.
Personal Life
Fritz Ursell married Katharina Renate Zander in 1959. They had two daughters named Susie and Ruth. Susie is married and has two children. Fritz Ursell passed away on May 11, 2012, in Manchester. His funeral was held a few days later.
