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Birth
Niels Bohr born on October 7th 1885 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Son of Christian Bohr, and Ellen Alder Bohr. -
Formal Education Begins
Begins education at the Gammelholm Latin School at age 7. -
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College/University
Enrolled into Copenhagen University in 1903 with a major in physics, Niels Bohr studied under the universities only physics professor, Christian Christiansen. He went on to graduate with a Masters and Doctorate in physics in 1909 and 1911 respectively. -
Surface Tension Experiments
Received gold medal in competition funded by the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters for experiments in the nature of surface tension, working on theories proposed by John William Strutt (Lord Rayleigh) in 1879. Niels Bohr made improvements to his theories by taking into account viscosity when performing his surface tension experiments. -
Work in Atomic Theory
Based on work done by Darwin on the theories concerning the role of electrons in the atom. At this point the theory that electrons orbited the nucleus like planets in a solar system was not new, however the role electrons played in an atom was not well understood. Niels Bohr theorized that elements properties were determined by their valence electron, and that electrons existed with energy states that could be shifted with a gain or loss in energy. -
Marriage
Wed to Margrethe Nørlund shortly after resigning his membership from the Church of Denmark. -
Niels Bohr Video by Hank Green
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Nobel Prize
Niels Bohr was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in atomic theory and quantum physics that fundamentally changed the scientific fields. Neils Bohrs advances in the understanding of electrons role in the structure of an atom, and how electrons behave in an atomic system represent a new paradigm from the understanding that had existed prior to these advances. Before these advances were made the notion that atoms had a "planetary" like structure was not new (Continue on Nobel Prize 2) -
Nobel Prize (2)
The function, and behavior of electrons was not well understood. Niels bohr theorized that electrons existed with certain energy states and that by introducing energy would shift the electron to a higher energy state, conversely an electron could drop to a lower orbit or energy state if energy (usually in the form of photons) was released. He also theorized that the outer electron, or valence electron was important in determining the chemical properties of an element. -
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Later Career
Following the Second World War, Niels Bohr returned to Copenhagen and was re-elected as president of the Royal Danish Academy of Arts and Sciences. He worked there, and contributed to the development of the CERN Research Organization for the remainder of his career. -
Death
Niels Bohr passes away in Copenhagen, Denmark at the age of 77. -
Niels Bohr Institute
Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Copenhagen was officially (though it had been nicknamed for some time) changed to the Neils Bohr Institute. This occurred on what would have been Neils Bohrs 80th birthday.
