Diffraction[1]

Development of Modern Physics

By hentw001

  • X-Rays

    While studying luminescence, Rontgen accidently discovers X-Rays.

  • Uranium Radiation

    While studying the flourescence of uranium crystals, Becquerel discovers that uranium produces natural radiation.

  • Alpha and Beta Radiation

    Rutherford classifies Uranium radiation into Alpha Rays and Beta Rays.

  • Electron

    In 1897, Thomson discovers the charge-to-mass ratio of the electron, and demonstrates that it exists as a particle.

  • Quantum Radiation Law

    Max Planck uses the theory that energy is fundamentally quantized to explain the blackbody spectrum, which until then was a mystery.

  • Photoelectric Effect

    Lenard shows that the energy of electrons given off by the photoelectric effect depends on the wavelength of the light source.

  • Special Relativity

    Einstein publishes his theory of Special Relativity, which was developed from implications of Maxwell's light wave theory.

  • Photon

    Einstein proposes that light energy is bundled as packets called photons, which gives physical meaning to Planck's blackbody law.

  • Characteristic X-rays

    Barkla demonstrates that the penetrating power of scattered X-Rays increases with larger atomic weights of the target material.

  • Cloud Chamber

    Wilson discovers vapor tracks produced by particles passing through his Cloud Chamber, adding a new tool to modern physics.

  • Atomic Nucleus

    Rutherford proposes his Nuclear model of the atom, where most of the atom's mass is concentrated within a region of empty space.

  • X-Ray Diffraction

    X-Rays are diffracted by von Laue, who passes them through a regular lattice of atoms (a crystal). This serves as an extremely tiny diffraction grating.

  • Polar and Non-polar Molecules

    Debye develops a theory of molecular dipoles, to explain intermolecular forces

  • Quantum Atom

    Niels Bohr suggests that in the Rutherford atom, electrons can only orbit the nucleus with certain allowed orbital distances. This would explain why electrons don't spiral into the nucleus.

  • Beta Particle Energy Spectrum

    Beta particles, a form of natural radiation, are shown to have energies distributed in a continuous spectrum. This work is done by James Chadwich in 1914.