Faraday's story
Faraday is a famous British physicist and chemist. The following story of Faraday is carefully collected by me for your reference ~
One day in 182, an unusual letter was sent from Saint Helena, an island in the South Atlantic, and came to the Royal Institute in London. The sender is a famous French great man, and the recipient is a 29-year-old experimenter. The young Englishman was surprised to see the signature of the sender and opened the letter in fear and trembling. When I read your important discovery in science, I deeply felt sorry: my own past years were really wasted on very boring things. ?
The sender was the French commander in chief who was in trouble at that time and was called? The French emperor Napoleon (1769? 1821)。 After losing to Britain and its allied forces at the Battle of Waterloo, he was exiled to St. Helena Island on December 1, 1815, where he was placed under house arrest until his death on May 5, 1821.
The recipient is one of Einstein's three heroes: Newton, Maxwell and him? Faraday. There are only three portraits hanging on the wall of Einstein's study.
Mike? Faraday was born in a poor blacksmith's house in 1791. After graduating from primary school, he dropped out of school and became a newsboy. Later, he worked as a bookbinder in a small bookstore. Fortunately, the poor days of the Faraday family were not painful. He later wrote in his letter:? My father often sings. I think my father influenced me to like singing when I grew up. My mother often reads poems to us. She is very gentle, keeps the house clean, and seems to have endless love for us. Poverty left no trace of pain at home, but brought the family closer. In my parents' mind, poverty is a blessing from God, not a curse. ? Faraday grew up in a warm and friendly family environment, loved reading, singing and painting all his life, and had a rich sense of humor. My father once said in the zoo when he was young, why can't the sparrow open its screen? Be a peacock first, then open the screen. ? This sentence inadvertently inspired him how to behave and live in the future.
Mike? Faraday (Michael Faraday, 1791? 1867)
Perhaps out of optimistic nature, the seven-year staple career did not sink Faraday, but it gave him the opportunity to read a lot of scientific works, especially learned a lot about chemistry and electricity by himself. The poor apprentice often buys some cheap instruments and medicines with the saved change, and then does various experiments according to the instructions in the book. He often came during that time? Society of Urban Philosophy? Attend lectures, where cultural education and science lectures are held regularly for out-of-school teenagers (at that time, the name of science has not been separated from the general term of philosophy).
There are often unexpected and decisive turning points in life. In April 181, Faraday had the honor of listening to Sir Humphry Davy (1778? 1829) titled? Natural philosophy? The last four lectures in the series. After the lecture, excited Faraday wrote a letter to David, expressing his admiration for David and hoping that he could recommend a job related to scientific experiments. Faraday didn't have a resume to hand in, but he attached a 386-page note (now kept in the Royal Institute) which he wrote down while listening attentively and bound beautifully by himself. Unexpectedly, the famous scientist not only wrote back to the bookbinder, but also hired him as an assistant experimenter in the laboratory of the Royal Research Institute. Faraday embarked on the road of no return in scientific research, and spent the next half century in that laboratory until he retired.
David is famous in the world for discovering 15 kinds of elements such as calcium, sodium, potassium, strontium, barium and magnesium. He is the scientist who has discovered the most chemical elements in history. He also confirmed that the chemical composition of diamond and charcoal is the same, so he was called? Father of inorganic chemistry? . However, it is said that David and his wife were not friendly to Faraday at first, and they took him as a servant when they went out to give lectures.
once, David was invited to design safety lights for miners. At that time, people did not have the concept of electric energy, and of course, there were no batteries and light bulbs available. This study was not easy at all. Faraday advised David to let the safety lights bring light to the mine and help David win the honor. This made David look at Faraday differently. However, the honest Faraday declared that this kind of safety lamp was not absolutely safe, which made the vain David very angry, so he began to reject Faraday. Later Faraday recalled:? I used to think that the smarter a person is, the more noble his moral character is. Unfortunately, I later found that often on the contrary, many people with low social status and low knowledge level have a strong, noble, sacred and loving heart. My expectation is to let intelligence and morality grow in parallel in the same person and restore the glory of God's original creation of mankind. ?
During his work in the laboratory of the Royal Research Institute, Faraday's talents gradually emerged, and he constantly made new discoveries and inventions, which made him famous. Faraday's successive honors made David unbearable, thinking that this humble experimenter had taken away his style as Britain's greatest scientist. In 1824, when Faraday was nominated as a Fellow of the Royal Society, David firmly opposed it. There was only one negative vote in the secret ballot. Of course, Faraday, 33, was finally elected.
but? Adults have their own generosity? Faraday respected David as his teacher all his life and never complained about him. Later, David gradually changed his attitude towards Faraday and thanked Faraday for his help and contribution many times. In 1825, the year after Faraday was elected as an academician of the Royal Society, David, who retired from illness, proposed Faraday to take over the position of laboratory director of the Royal Research Institute. In his later years, David was asked what was the most important discovery in his life. David replied without hesitation:? The most important discovery in my life was Faraday. ?
David said this because Faraday also had many important inventions and discoveries in his life. Faraday engaged in a wide range of experimental research topics, mainly chemistry at first, and then electromagnetism. In chemistry, he liquefied hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen by low temperature pressurization in gas liquefaction research; He discovered benzene in gas fractionation; He was also the first to observe the semiconductor phenomenon and nanoparticles that we are familiar with today. Faraday not only made many scientific discoveries, but also made many technological inventions, such as synthesizing hexachloroethane and tetrachloroethylene, making bunsen burner, optical glass, gel, carbon steel and alloy steel, and pioneered the metallographic analysis method. Faraday's most well-known invention is the capacitor he made in 1836 and the introduced dielectric value and capacitance constant, so later generations chose Farad as the unit of capacitance.
Faraday's most outstanding work is the discovery of electromagnetic induction and the concept of electromagnetic field. In 1821, inspired by Hans Christian Oersted's paper on the magnetic effect of current, he made an important discovery in the experiment: the wire passing through the current can rotate around the magnet. In the same year, he invented the (unipolar) motor with David and wollaston. Faraday further believed that there should be a harmonious symmetry between electricity and magnetism: since electricity generates magnetism, magnetism can also generate electricity. After 1 years of continuous exploration and many failures, Faraday finally succeeded on August 26, 1831! He used a Volta battery to power on or off one set of coils, and instantly obtained induced current from another set of coils, which he called? Voltaic induction? ; On October 17 of the same year, he completed the experiment of exciting current from the closed coil when the magnet moves relative to the closed coil, which he called? Magnetoelectric induction? ; He went on to invent the (disc) generator. Faraday's great scientific achievements are of great significance, announcing that human society has begun to enter the electrical age.
Next, in 1832, Faraday discovered diamagnetism, that is, when an object is magnetized, it will produce a magnetic force that opposes the external magnetic field. He studied electrochemical decomposition in detail and got two? Faraday's law of electrolysis? . He also studied the identity of electricity. In 1835, Faraday studied electrostatics and dielectric and gas discharge. In the study of static electricity, he found that the charge on a charged conductor is only attached to the surface of the conductor, and the charge on these surfaces has no effect on the interior of the conductor. This? Faraday shielding effect? Also applied to? Faraday cage? Above: Even when the static voltage of the metal cage rises to, for example, one million volts, due to the shielding effect, all the charges are distributed on the outer surface of the cage, but the inside of the cage is not charged. At this time, it will still be safe if someone hides in the cage. This discovery not only brought many applications of engineering technology, but also allowed many magicians to perform some thrilling programs.
Pound note with Faraday's portrait
In 1837, Faraday further put forward the theory of electrostatic induction. As early as 1822, he tried to make light move in the direction of electric current and obtain polarized light through electrolytic waves, but without success; By 1845, he realized the use of a strong magnetic field to rotate the polarization plane of polarized light, which is now called? Faraday rotation effect? . In 1845, Faraday also studied the relationship between light, electricity and magnetism, and put forward? Light and radio waves have the same properties? The theory of. After that, he studied radiation vibration in 1846, gravity and electricity in 1849, and time and magnetism in 1857. On the basis of these research work, he came up with the idea that the electric and magnetic effects were transmitted from one object to another through some intermediate medium, and thought that this medium was a? Field? . On September 23, 1931, Einstein held a meeting in London, England? Centennial anniversary of the motor industry? The speech said:? I believe Faraday's influence on the world will never end. His thoughts on electromagnetic fields will continue to be discussed by future generations. ? Einstein pointed out that introduction? Field? Faraday's concept is the most original idea, and the electromagnetic field itself is the most important discovery since Newton's time. This may explain why there is a portrait of Faraday on the wall of Einstein's study.
? Faraday electromagnetic field theory? The profound physical thought strongly attracted and inspired the young physicist Maxwell (James Clerk Maxwell, 1831? 1879), so that he summed up in 1865 what was later called? Maxwell equations? The basic law of electromagnetic field makes the physical and mathematical theories of electricity and magnetism perfectly unified. In 1931, Einstein was in? Maxwell's centenary birthday commemoration? On the evaluation, his achievements? Is it the most profound and fruitful work in physics since Newton? . To this end, Einstein hung Maxwell's portrait in his study. In Einstein's view, Faraday and Maxwell and later Hertz (Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, 1857? 1894) and others' scientific contributions were made by 18? The key factors in the transformation from classical physics in the 19th century to relativity and quantum physics in the 2th century.
Faraday is not only diligent and enterprising, but also very enthusiastic about helping young people. Physicist Maxwell couldn't find a job at that time, and he was in an embarrassing situation. Faraday strongly recommended him to get a position at the Royal Institute. Physicist Joule (James Prescott Joule, 1818? 1889), when I was young, I was repeatedly rejected by academic journals, and I was very depressed. On one occasion, he summoned up the courage to send an article he thought was the best to the elderly Faraday for his review. Faraday soon wrote back, saying? I have received the article you sent me and read it at once. Thank you for making such a wonderful contribution to the science we sincerely love. What a joy! I can see this leap you made for electricity while I am still alive. I have seen your future. Brilliance! I know there are still many ambiguities in this field, but your article is like the dawn. I have to say that you have made a very important contribution in this field of natural science. ?
from 1825 to 1862, Faraday presided over the Royal Institute? Friday night seminar? Popular science series activities. Members attending the seminar include workers, aristocrats, students, professors, and sometimes the queen who loves science will come. Everyone came here voluntarily to listen to the reports of scientists and learn how to conduct experiments and establish theories. Starting from Christmas in 1826, Faraday taught natural science knowledge to children. He especially likes to explain the mysteries of natural phenomena to children, such as why there are clouds in the sky? Why is thunder always heard after lightning? Why the river always flows downwards, and so on, often excites curious children. Since speeches are always held around New Year's Day, do you call them? Christmas lecture? . The children's popular science series continued until Faraday was almost 7 years old in 186. His speech "The Chemical History of Candles" was compiled into a book in 1861 and later translated into many languages.
the cover of Faraday's The Chemical History of Candles
Faraday is a very devout Christian. In an inspiring public speech, Faraday introduced his electromagnetic discovery to everyone. In addition to celebrities, scholars and professors, there are also Queen Victoria and some dignitaries. After Faraday's speech, the audience stood up and applauded warmly. However, everyone waited for a long time but didn't see Faraday reappear to thank him. It turned out that he had slipped away from the back door and went to a seriously ill old man to comfort and encourage her to read the Bible. In Faraday's view, it is more important to accompany an old man who is about to die through the last part of his life than to accept compliments from a group of great people.
after Faraday became famous as a chemist, British courts often hired him to do criminal drug identification. Some people advised him to quit his research job in the laboratory and work in a court with an annual salary of five times. But Faraday smiled and shook his head. From 1853 to 1856, the famous Crimean War broke out in Europe, with the Russian Empire on one side and the Ottoman Empire, France and Britain on the other. At that time, the British government invited Faraday to develop chemical weapons, but he thought it was inhumane to do so and flatly refused.