Life and achievements
Early life
Max Planck was born on April 23, 1858, in Kiel, Germany, to a family of academics. His father, Johan Julius Wilhelm Planck, was a law professor, and his mother's grandfather and great-grandfather were theology professors. Planck was the sixth child of the family and grew up in a family that had high regard for education and learning.
Planck was always interested in mathematics and science from a young age. Maximilian Gymnasium in Munich was his primary school, and he was an outstanding student in all subjects he was learning. Hermann Müller was one of his teachers who realized that Planck had the potential to be a great physicist. It was beneficial in the development of Planck's career as he received encouragement in the early stages of his life.
Planck enrolled at the University of Munich at the age of sixteen in 1874, and his early tutor was Philipp von Jolly. However, Jolly depicted a rather gloomy outlook on the future of physics, and so Planck had to seek motivation from other sources. He then went to the University of Berlin for one year, where he studied under such men as Hermann von Helmholtz and Gustav Kirchhoff. Despite his disappointment with the lectures, self-study, and particularly the work of Rudolf Clausius on thermodynamics, prepared the ground for Planck's further work in physics.
Planck got his doctorate in 1879 at the age of twenty-one; his thesis was on the second law of thermodynamics. He then proceeded to do his rehabilitation and was allowed to teach at the university level. Some of his early academic positions include an associate professor position at the University of Kiel, where he continued his research in thermodynamics and entropy.
Legacy
Max Planck has influenced society greatly, not only in the scientific field. The quantum theory that he developed changed the course of the history of physics and was a direct challenge to classical mechanics, introducing new ideas that are now fundamental in the study of the sub-atomic world. Planck's constant is one of the most essential concepts in quantum mechanics and still holds its significance in today's physics.
Many discoveries and advancements were made due to the work of Planck in the future. He proposed energy quanta and opened the path for quantum mechanics, which has drastically impacted technology and science. Quantum mechanics is a theory currently applied in many fields, such as electronics, cryptography, and quantum computing, thus meaning that the ideas that Planck proposed are still relevant today.
Besides the scientific legacy, Planck also participated in the formation of other scientists. He also oversaw the early years of Albert Einstein, valued his work on the theory of relativity, and assisted in his hiring at the University of Berlin. Planck, being a leader in the scientific society, set the environment of collaboration and progress.
The Max Planck Society, named after him, is still one of the leading scientific organizations. It comprises numerous institutes that are engaged in the research and development of science in various disciplines. This society is not only the recognition of Planck but also the further development of his passion for science and research.
It is equally important to note that Planck was a very determined man despite the fact that he lost a lot in his life. Despite the fact that his family and his home were involved in the war and some of his family members were killed in the war, Planck did not stop studying. He has been a great scientist and has devoted all his life to science and its development, which has positively impacted society.
Milestone moments
Apr 18, 1879
Doctoral Degree in Thermodynamics
Max Planck presented his doctoral thesis on the second law of thermodynamics at Munich University.
This was the beginning of the significant input he was to make in the growth of physics as a science.
This was the same with Planck's dissertation, where he developed the foundation of his later works on entropy and energy.
His initial focus on thermodynamics made him come up with new ideas in quantum mechanics.
In this period, we also explained how Planck was able to challenge the existing theories and think of new concepts.
In the early years of his scholarly life, he was determined to revolutionize the scientific community.
Dec 18, 1900
Introduction of Quantum Theory
Max Planck presented his work on black-body radiation, which is one of the most essential works in the history of science.
He came up with the theory of energy quantum, where energy is stated to exist in small bundles.
This concept was new and wholly defied classical physics to open the door for quantum physics.
Planck's work in quantum theory was to provide a solution to the failures that were evident between the actual events and the classical theory.
His theory provided a new outlook on nuclear and subnuclear events.
This can be regarded as one of the most significant occurrences in the history of physics and contributed to making Planck a well-known physicist of his generation.
Oct 21, 1918
Nobel Prize in Physics
Max Planck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of energy quanta.
The Nobel Committee valued his effort in the development of theoretical physics.
This prestigious award supported Planck's findings on quantum theory.
The Nobel Committee's decision to award Planck a prize was an indication of the impact that he had made on the scientific community.
The award brought more attention to the field of quantum mechanics and what could be achieved with it.
This way, Planck's Nobel Prize was a confirmation of his status as one of the most significant physicists of his generation and a great scientist at the turn of the century.
Feb 6, 1926
Election into the Royal Society
Max Planck also held a fellowship of the Royal Society as a Foreign Member, one of the most critical scientific academies in the world.
This appreciation was because of the effect he had created across the globe and his contribution to the field of theoretical physics.
Thus, Planck's election to the Royal Society is a definite sign of his acknowledgment in the international scientific community.
The recognition by the Royal Society also indicated Planck's input to the expansion of knowledge.
This milestone helped underline the importance of his work in the field of quantum theory and thermodynamics.
This means that Planck's contribution was relevant not only at the time he was elected to the Royal Society but also after that.