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Date of Birth
August 30th 1871, is the day the famous chemist Ernest Rutherford was born in Bright Water, New Zealand. He was the fourth child out of the twelve in his family. -
Scientific Inspiration
At the age of 10 Ernset was handed his first scince book. This book inspired his very first scientific exeriment. He constructed a miniature cannon, which to his and his familys surprise EXPLODED! Thankfully despite the failed experiment, his interest in acedemincs stood strong. Then in 1889 he attended a private secondary school called Nelson Collegiate school. For a short period of time. -
Canterbury College
At this college, Rutherford's Proffesors encouraged his effort of obtaining concrete proof through scientific experimentation. At that same college Rutherford would obtain his bachelor if Arts and his Master of Arts degrees. -
Independent research
1894,still at Canterbury, Rutherford conducted independent research on the ability of high-frequency electrical discharge to magnetize iron. This research got him a bachelor degree in science in just years time. -
X-Ray research part 2
While working as a team Rutheford and Thompson studied the effect of x-rays on gasses. With this info they wrote a paper about dividing atoms and molecules into ions. Rutherford looked deeper into the " ion producing radiations " Rutherford, now focusing on uranium,found out through a number of experiments that putting it near foil resulted in one type of radiation being easily soaked up or blocked, and in time had no trouble penetrating the same foil. He labled the two uraniums alpha and beta. -
Alpha and Beta
He labeled the two radiation types “alpha” and “beta.”. Turns out, the alpha particle was the same as the nucleus of a helium atom. The beta particle was, also identical to an electron or positron. -
X-Rays research part 1
Rutherford was the first research student at the University Of Cambridges Cavendish Laboratory, he found a simpler and more commercially practical way of which to go about detecting radio waves, rather than the method previously used by german phycisist Heinrich Hertz. While at Cavendish Laboratory Rutherford recieved an invitation from Poffesor J.J. Thompson to work together in there research of X-Rays. X-Rays were discovered by German cientist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen just a few months prior -
Family
The same year he conducted his Expiriment that earned him his bachelor degree, he fell in love with Mary neuton. Six years later the couple married and had a daughter named eileen. -
Groundbreaking!
While working as a professor at the university of manchester Rutherford made the groundbreaking discovery that nearly the total mass of an atom is concentrated in a nucleus through experimentation tha involved firing alpha particles at foil. -
Nobel Prize!
Rutherfords invention of the nuclear model. His doscovery marked the origin of nuclear physics and therefore marked the path to the invention of the atom bomb, he was named " Father Of The Nuclear age " Rutherford was honored to be awarded with the nobel peace prize of chemistry in 1908. -
Knightship+
Rutherfor recieved countless honors during his career, including several honorary degrees and fellowships from organizations such as the Institution of Electrical Engineers. Such as In 1914 he was knighted. -
Nuclear reactions
At this time Ruther ford made another amazing discovery. He discovered how to " artificially induce a nuclear reaction in a stable element " From then on nuclear reactions were Rutherfords main focus for the rest of his scientific career. -
Baron Rutherford of Nelson
Rutherford was granted the title of " Baron Rutherford Of Nelson "
and elevated to peerage in 1931, As well as being elected president of the institute of physics that same year. -
Date of death
On October 19th 1937 in Cambridge, United Kingdom the great scientist Ernest Rutherford, winner of a nobel prize in chemistry, passed away at the age of 66. His death was due to complications of a strangulated hurnia. -
His hopes
Rutherford said he hoped "scientists would not learn how to extract atomic energy until man was living at peace with his neighbors.” The discovery of nuclear fission was, sadly made just two years after his death, and catostrophicly resulted in what Rutherford had feared he most, the use of nuclear power to build weapons of mass destruction.
