1. Max Planck The Father of Quantum Physics By: Michael Showak

2. Basic Facts Planck was born 1858 and died in 1947 He spent his entire life living in Germany He was married twice; had 5 kids, four of which died before Planck He was a professor at the University of Berlin from 1892-1926 Served as president of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society from 1930 to 1937 and was a permanent secretary in the Prussian Academy of Sciences from 1912 to 1938 He received the Nobel Prize in 1918 for his work in physics

3. Accomplishments Determined the relationship between energy and the frequency of electromagnetic radiation (E=hv) by finding the constant h Published papers on entropy, thermoelectricity and the theory of dilute solutions Was one of the leaders in physics and was very influential in the science community

4. Uses of E=hv Planck’s formula E= hv can be used to explain common things, like why a blue flame is hotter than a yellow one. Blue Flame c=λv 3×10 8 m/s= 4.5×10 -7 m × v v = 6.67×10 14 E=hv E=6.626×10 -34 × 6.67×10 14 E=4.42×10 -19 Yellow Flame c=λv 3×10 8 m/s= 6.0×10 -7 m × v v = 5.0×10 14 E=hv E=6.626×10 -34 × 5.0×10 14 E=3.31×10 -19 E=4.42×10 -19 E=3.31×10 -19 > Electromagnetic Spectrum

5. Just remember the energy of wave is directly proportional to the frequency of the wave, or in other words, as the frequency of a wave increase, the energy of the wave also increases. E=hv Energy Planck’s constant Frequency of light (number of waves per second) What does the formula mean?

6. Planck’s constant.00000000000000000000000000000000066260755 Js 6.6260755 × 10 −34 Js This number is one of the most important numbers in all of physics. Nearly everything we know about subatomic particles today is based on Planck’s constant. Some of its uses include: Einstein’s explanation of the photoelectric effect Quantum mechanics Bohr’s model of the atom And many other physics problems

7. Other Work One easy example of the theories that came out of these papers is why and ice cube melts in a warm room. Based on Planck’s work on thermoelectricity and entropy, the air molecules want to give their energy to the H 2 O molecules so that all of the molecules in the room become the same temperature As the air transfers its energy the H 2 O increases in temperature and changes from a solid to a liquid. Planck’s papers on entropy, thermoelectricity and the theory of dilute solutions stated many things that were already known, but Planck was one of the first people to put the down in words.

8. References “Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck.” World Book’s Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists. 2003 ed. “Planck.” The Biographical Dictionary of Scientists 1994. ed. Nobel Lectures, Physics 1901-1921. Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam. 1967. "Max Planck." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 Mar 2006.. “Max Planck Exhibition.” Max Planck Society. 4 Mar 2006. “Max Planck” Britannica Standard Edition 2004 CD. 2004 Ed. “A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.” – Max Planck