Robert Adair (physicist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Adair
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| Born | August 14, 1924 Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
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| Died | September 28, 2020 (aged 96) Hamden, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor Adair (physiologist) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | University of Wisconsin Brookhaven National Laboratory Yale University |
Robert Kemp Adair (born August 14, 1924 – died September 28, 2020) was an American scientist who studied physics. He was a very important professor of physics at Yale University.
Contents
Who Was Robert Adair?
Robert Adair was a brilliant physicist who made many discoveries. He was also a brave soldier and a talented writer. He helped us understand how the world works, from tiny particles to the physics of baseball.
Early Life and War Service
Robert Adair was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1924. When he was older, he volunteered to serve in World War II. He fought in Europe and was recognized for his bravery. He received awards like the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal.
Becoming a Physicist
After the war, Robert Adair went to the University of Wisconsin. He earned a special degree called a doctorate in nuclear physics. This means he studied the tiny parts inside atoms.
He then worked at a big science lab called Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in New York.
His Work at Yale University
In 1959, Professor Adair started teaching at Yale University. He became the head of the Physics Department. He also led the Division of Physical Sciences.
He was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1976. This is a group of top scientists in the United States. He even led the physics section of this academy for several years. He also became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Professor Adair spent a lot of time studying how tiny particles interact. He worked on experiments at the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) at BNL.
Later Studies and Retirement
Even after he retired, Professor Adair kept studying science. He looked into how very weak electromagnetic fields might affect people's health. He also helped a group called the American Physical Society study global warming.
Robert Adair passed away in September 2020 when he was 96 years old.
Robert Adair and Baseball Science
Professor Adair was famous for his work on the science of baseball. He wrote a book called The Physics of Baseball. He also wrote a paper about the sound a bat makes when it hits a ball.
How He Started Studying Baseball
His interest in baseball physics began with a request from the president of Yale University, A. Bartlett Giamatti. The president wanted to understand the science behind things like "corking a bat" or "wetting a ball." These are things baseball players sometimes do.
Professor Adair used science to explain if these actions really helped or not. Many of his experiments were done by his lab expert, Richard Larsen, at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Other Books by Robert Adair
Besides his baseball book, Professor Adair also wrote another book. It was called The Great Design: Particles, Fields and Creation. This book explored how particles and forces create the universe.
