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Short Video about Werner Heisenberg
Featured is a link to a short video biography about Werner Karl Heisenberg. https://youtu.be/uc6Se8UXWq8 -
The Life of Werner Karl Heisenberg
German philosopher, Werner Karl Heisenberg is the youngest of Dr. August Heisenberg’s two sons and was born on December 5, 1901 in Würzburg, Germany. Werner's father, Dr. Heisenberg was a professor at the University of Munich while Werner’s mother Anna Wecklein was the daughter of the rector at the elite Maximillians-Gymnasium in Munich, Germany. Growing up, Heisenberg's hobbies include music, hiking, classic literature, philosophy, and calculus which he taught himself as a teenager. -
Growing Up
Werner was an introvert and his dad was constantly enforcing competition between him and his brother Erwin which likely contributed to him being ahead of his peers. Werner grew up in an intellectual family to include his brother who later became a chemist. He was innovative at an early age and learned to play the piano and by 13-years old was playing advanced compositions pieces. -
Education
Following elementary school, Werner Heisenberg went on to attend the Maximillians-Gymnasium, a 9-year school to prepare for higher education and study mathematics. Heisenberg was planning to attend the University of Munich in Germany but had to earn the funds to pay tuition fees. Heisenberg was considered a hard worker and worked on a farm over a time period of three summers. By 1920 he was finally able to enroll at the University of Munich under Arnold Sommerfeld and earned his Ph.D in 1923. -
Furthering Education
Heisenberg went on to assist physicist Max Born, while subsequently earning the Venia Legend at the University of Gottingen which would allow him to teach at German Universities. In 1924-1925, Heisenberg continued to advance in his studies and attend the University in Copenhagen, Denmark under Niels Bohr and began studying atomic theory. -
Nobel Prize
Heisenberg figured out how to formulate Quantum Mechanics through matrices and created the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle which basically states that an electrons measurement can't be made simultaneously. This principle helped to build on theories in relation to hydronamics, subatomic particles, the atomic atom, and more. Heisenberg also did research and planning to develop the first German nuclear reactor. In 1932 he won the Nobel Prize in physics for discovering allotropic forms of hydrogen. -
The Nazi Administration
In 1939, After discovering nuclear fission, Heisenberg became one of the leading scientists in developing the German affiliated nuclear energy project, also known as the “Uranium Club”. Heisenberg along with Niels Bohr discussed nuclear research and theoretical physics. By 1942 the Nazi administration asked Heisenberg to conduct more research towards developing nuclear weapons, however, he did not want to contribute his research to nuclearizing weapons and the projects regulations changed. -
Heisenberg's Imprisonment
Following the second World War, US forces took Heisenberg into custody along with other scientists involved in nuclear research under Operation Epilson. The scientists were imprisoned at Farm Hall in England where conversations emerged after reported news of the Atomic Bomb that was dropped over Hiroshima, Japan. The conversations indicated that Werner Heisenberg was clueless regarding basic fundamentals on bomb making and was declared innocent and released in January of 1946. -
Post War
After the war ended, Heisenberg was free to return to Germany and In 1946 returned to the Max Planck Institute of Physics and stayed there until approximately 1958. Not long after he became a professor at the University of Munich in Germany. In Heisenberg's late years he grew interested in work related to plasma physics and thermonuclear processes. He also was the chairman for the Scientific Policy committee for the International Institute of Atomic Physics at Geneva. -
Heisenberg explaining Quantum Mechanics
Featured is a link of a recorded interview of Heisenberg at the Max Planck Institute in Munich, Germany. In the recording, Werner Heisenberg explains the nature of Quantum Mechanics and how it challenges our common sense. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbpOMkBMtYU -
Before Heisenbergs Passing
Heisenberg met with Einstein weeks before he passed away and Einstein expressed his dislike for Quantum Mechanics because of its inherent uncertainty. What he did accept is that Quantum Mechanics has been verified through various experiments. Bohr who worked alongside Heisenberg had witnessed Einstein say, "God does not play dice" and Bohr responded "Stop telling God what to do!". -
In Remeberence of Werner Heisenberg
Later in Werner Heisenberg's career he would give lectures over theoretical physics and retired in 1970. Heisenberg health began to decline in 1973 where he became detrimentally ill from Gallbladder and Kidney cancer. After the illness progressed, he passed away on February 1, 1976 at 74-years old in Munich, Germany. -
Citations
1) The Early Years, 1901-1920: Family Matters, history.aip.org/exhibits/heisenberg/p02.htm.
2) “The Nobel Prize in Physics 1932.” NobelPrize.org, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1932/heisenberg/biographical/. 3) Ray, Muon. “Uncertainty Man - Werner Heisenberg.” Uncertainty Man - Werner Heisenberg, 1 Jan. 1970, muonray.blogspot.com/2013/10/uncertainty-man-werner-heisenberg.html. -
Citations
4) Beyler, Richard. “Werner Heisenberg.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28 Jan. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Werner-Heisenberg. 5) “Werner Heisenberg Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography, www.notablebiographies.com/He-Ho/Heisenberg-Werner.html. 6) Werner Heisenberg - Important Scientists - The Physics of the Universe, www.lukemastin.com/physics/scientists_heisenberg.html.
