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Birth of Niels Bohr
Bohr was born on October 7, 1885 in Copenhagen, Denmark to a respected professor of physiology at the University of Copenhagen. His mother came from a prominent Jewish family of bankers and parliamentarians. -
Bohr Model
Bohr developed his Bohr model based off Rutherford's theories. His model depicted the atom as a small, positively-charged nucleus surrounded by negatively-charged electrons that orbited the nucleus. His model was similar to that of the Solar System, except instead of gravity providing attraction, electromagnetic forces provided the attraction. -
Institute of Theoretical Physics
The Danish government and the Carlsberg Foundation aided Bohr in founding the Institute of Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen, Denmark. -
Nobel Prize
Bohr introduced the idea that chemical properties of particular elements were determined by the number of electrons in the outer orbits. Additionally, he proposed electrons could move from a higher orbit to a lower orbit. He suggested that this process emitted discrete energy, which became the part of the basis for his quantum theory. -
Liquid-drop Model
Bohr, along with John Wheeler, created the "liquid-drop" model of the atomic nucleus. This model was key in developing and understanding many nuclear processes. The "liquid-drop" model explained the basis of nuclear fission. [<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AHCJFpMFlVE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>] -
Bohr Flees
In 1943, Bohr was forced to leave Denmark after it was occupied by German forces. Bohr, having a Jewish background, had to flee, escaping to Sweden before he was arrested by German police. After he escaped, he worked on many nuclear weapon projects in the United States from the Manhattan Project, to working in New Mexico helping develop nuclear powers. -
The Death of Bohr
After fleeing to Sweden, Bohr traveled to the United States. After the war, he returned to Copenhagen, Denmark where he remained until his death at 77. -
Major Works
Below are the major works authored by Niels Bohr:
Bohr, Niels. Atomic Physics & Human Knowledge. Chapman & Hall, 1958.
Bohr, Niels. On the Quantum Theory of Line-Spectra. Kobenhavn Host, 1918.
Bohr, Niels. Atomic Theory and the Description of Nature: Four Essays, with an Introductory Survey. AMS Press, 1934.
Bohr, Niels. Essays, 1933-1957 on Atomic Physics and Human Knowledge, Vol 2. Ox Bow Press.
Bohr, Niels. Essays, 1958-1962 on Atomic Physics and Human Knowledge, Vol 3. Ox Bow Press.