Johannes Rydberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johannes Rydberg
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Johannes Rydberg
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| Born | 8 November 1854 |
| Died | 28 December 1919 (aged 65) |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Known for | Rydberg formula |
| Awards | Fellow of the Royal Society (1919) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | Lund University |
Johannes (Janne) Robert Rydberg (born November 8, 1854 – died December 28, 1919) was a Swedish physicist. He is most famous for creating the Rydberg formula in 1888. This important formula helps scientists figure out the wavelengths of photons (like light) that are given off when an electron in a hydrogen atom changes its energy level. His work was a big step in understanding how atoms behave.
Contents
The Life of Johannes Rydberg
Johannes Rydberg was born on November 8, 1854, in Halmstad, a town in southern Sweden. He was the only child of Sven and Maria Rydberg. When he was just four years old, his father passed away. This meant his family had to live on very little money.
Early Education and University
In 1873, Johannes finished school at Halmstads elementärläroverk. He was excellent in mathematics and physics. Later that same year, he started studying at Lund University. Just two years later, he earned his bachelor's degree. In 1879, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree. His main paper for this degree was about how to draw special curves called conic sections.
Starting His Scientific Career
Rydberg began working at Lund University as an assistant, called an amanuensis. In 1880, he became a docent (a type of lecturer) in mathematics. By 1882, he was a docent in physics. Around this time, he started looking into the atomic weights of elements. He wondered why the weights of atoms in Mendeleev's periodic table seemed to increase in a way that looked random. He spent several years trying to find a mathematical rule for this, but he didn't succeed.
Discovering the Rydberg Formula
Rydberg then turned his attention to atomic spectra. This is the study of the unique colors of light that different atoms give off. Before him, another scientist named Johann Jakob Balmer had found a formula in 1885. Balmer's formula described the visible light lines given off by the hydrogen atom.
Rydberg's own research led him to publish his famous formula in 1888. His formula was even better because it could describe the light lines not only for hydrogen but also for other elements. After sharing more of his work in 1890, Rydberg went back to his earlier research on the periodic table, but still without success.
Later Career and Recognition
In 1897, Rydberg applied to become a full professor. Even though experts recommended him, he was not given the position. Instead, he became an "extraordinary professor," which was a special kind of professor. It wasn't until 1909 that he finally became a full professor. To earn more money, he also worked part-time. He was a numbers checker at a bank in Lund and later an actuary (someone who calculates risks) in Malmö.
In 1913, Rydberg became very ill. He had to slow down his research. By 1915, he was given time off from work because of his sickness. He passed away on December 28, 1919, at Lund Hospital. His student, Manne Siegbahn, took over his work.
Johannes Rydberg is buried in the northern cemetery in Lund. He was survived by his wife, Lydia Carlsson, his son, Helge Rydberg, and his daughter, Gerda Rydberg.
The Rydberg Formula and Its Impact
The physical constant known as the Rydberg constant is named after Johannes Rydberg. This constant is very important in physics. The Rydberg unit of energy is also named in his honor.
Atoms that are highly excited and have very high values for their principal quantum number (which is shown as n in the Rydberg formula) are called Rydberg atoms. Rydberg believed that studying atomic spectra could help us understand atoms and their chemical properties better. His idea proved true in 1913 when Niels Bohr used similar ideas to explain the hydrogen spectrum.
See also
In Spanish: Johannes Rydberg para niños
