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Niel Bohr's Birth
Born on October 7, 1885 in Copenhagen, Denmark -
Bohr's Atomic Model
Atomic theory, ancient philosophical speculation that all things can be accounted for by innumerable combinations of hard, small, indivisible particles called atoms. Bohr theorized that electrons orbit the nucleus in orbits that have a set size and energy. A model of atoms still used in today's science. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXUqWlcZrss -
Structure of the Periodic Table through Atomic Theory
Niels Bohr applied his atomic theory to the periodic table of elements. He showed that chemical properties of an element resulted mainly from the behavior of valence electrons, the electrons occupying the highest stable orbit. This was an important step in the creation of the field of quantum chemistry. Bohr predicted that the undiscovered atomic element 72 would resemble zirconium. Hafnium was discovered in 1923. -
Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
The Copenhagen interpretation was the first general attempt to understand the world of atoms as this is represented by quantum mechanics. Bohr and his colleagues created the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, which is still used as a conceptual basis in current science. Plato.stanford.edu. 2021. Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-copenhagen/ -
Debates with Enstein Brought Attention to Quantum Mechanics
Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr were involved in a series of public debates about quantum mechanics. These debates are important to the philosophy of science because they not only represented one of the highest points of scientific research in the first half of the twentieth century but also brought to focus quantum mechanics, which is essential in our understanding of the physical world. https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/einstein/legacy/quantum-theory -
WWII
Adolf Hitler’s election in 1933 caused additional issues. He used his institute to relocate Jewish researchers. The discovery of fission or the splitting of atoms made Bohr realize the possibility of an atomic bomb. In 1941 he denied first the offer to help build the bomb and fled to Sweden. In 1943 he and his son were forced to hear the brief of the atomic bomb. He then knew he had to assist in the bomb creation to stop the Germans. In 1945 the atomic bomb was created and dropped on Japan. -
Niel Bohr's Death
Niel Bohr's vast contribution to science, philosophy of science and overall way we view reality will always be remembered.