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Birth of Niels Bohr
Bohr was born in Copenhagen, Denmark as a middle child of 3. His father, Christian Bohr, was a professor of physiology at the University of Copenhagen, and mother, Ellen Adler Bohr, who came from a wealthy Danish Jewish family with higher education. Works Cited:
“The Nobel Prize in Physics 1922.” NobelPrize.org, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1922/bohr/biographical/. -
Bohr Atomic Model
Bohr proposed his atomic model to explain how electrons can have stable orbits around the nucleus by modifying the Rutherford model by keeping the electrons in stationary orbit with fixed size and energy. The energy of an electron changes as the size of the orbit changes. The atom is in stable state with the lowest orbit, since it cant go any lower in energy into which the electron can jump. Works Cited:
(Bohr Atomic Model, http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/glossary/bohr_atom.html) -
Niels Bohr Institute
Niels Bohr opened the Institute of Theoretical Physics on March 3, 1921, now known as Niels Bohr Institute. The Institute served as the hot spot for researchers into quantum mechanics and related subjects in the 1920's and into the 30's. Now there are more than 130 researchers, 70 management and technical staff, 100 PhD students and several hundred students. Works Cited:
Communication. “The Institute.” – Niels Bohr Institute - University of Copenhagen, https://www.nbi.ku.dk/english/about/ -
Nobel Prize Laureate
Bohr was recognized for his work on the structure of atoms (later to be known as the Bohr Model) with the award of the Nobel Prize. In his speech he gives credit to Plank and Einstein for their law of movement that helps him define the model. Works Cited:
“The Nobel Prize in Physics 1922.” NobelPrize.org, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1922/bohr/speech/. -
Behavior or Light as Particle and a Wave
Bohr developed his principle of complementarity, the theory that particles can have several properties such as the wave-particle duality of light, He demonstrated that the light can either behave as a wave or a particle, but not at the same time. Works Cited:
“NIELS BOHR.” Niels Bohr - Important Scientists - The Physics of the Universe, https://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com/scientists_bohr.html. -
Bohr Einstein Debate
Bohr was a proponent of electrons having only probabilities if they weren’t observed, while Einstein argued that they had independent reality, where he was famously quoted as saying “God does not play dice”. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tafGL02EUOA) Works Cited:
YouTube, PBS, 21 Sept. 2016, https://youtu.be/tafGL02EUOA. Skibba, Ramin. “Einstein, Bohr and the War over Quantum Theory.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 27 Mar. 2018, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-03793-2. -
Manhattan Project
Nazis found out that Bohr was considered Jew through his mother so his friends helped him escape through Sweden, then to London. Bohr eventually made his way to the United States, found work at Los Alamos through networking but under the pseudonym Nicholas Baker. He worked as a knowledgeable consultant but he was quoted as saying "They didn't need my help in making the bomb" Works Cited:
“Niels Bohr.” Atomic Heritage Foundation, 7 Oct. 1885, https://www.atomicheritage.org/profile/niels-bohr. -
Royal Danish Academy of Arts and Science
World War 2 ended and Bohr returned to Copenhagen on 25 August 1945. He was re-elected as the President of the Royal Danish Academy of Arts and Sciences shortly thereafter. Works Cited:
Joensen, Ola Jakup. – Niels Bohr Institute - University of Copenhagen, https://www.nbi.ku.dk/english/www/historical_sites/physical_science/the_royal_danish_academy_dantes_plads/. -
Death of Niels Bohr
Niels Bohr died in Copenhagen on November 18, 1962 leaving his wife, Margrethe Norlund, and their 4 sons (6 sons total but 2 passed before him). Works Cited:
“The Nobel Prize in Physics 1922.” NobelPrize.org, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1922/bohr/biographical/.
