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Heinrich Hertz

German physicist (1857-1894) · Scientists · Died at 36

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He proved that invisible waves could travel through empty space - the experiment that turned Maxwell's equations from theory into the foundation of every wireless technology we use.

ScientistsScientistPhysicsPhilosophy19th Century

A life in dates

1894Died1 January 18941890Honorary Member of the Physics Association (Frankfurt Am Main, Germany)AwardRumford MedalAward1889“When a constant electric current flows along a cylindrical wire, its strength is the same at every part of the section of the wire.”In their words"On the Propagation of Electric Waves by Means of Wires" (1889) Wiedemann's Annalen. 37 p. 395, & pp.160-161 of Electric Waves

La Caze Prize of the Academy of SciencesAward1888Matteucci MedalAward1887Bressa PrizeAward1857Born22 February 1857

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

HEINRICH HERTZHEINRICH HERTZBrockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary b16 561-1Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary b16 561-1Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary b16 561-2Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary b16 561-2Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary b16 562-0Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary b16 562-0Brockhaus-Efron Oscillation 2Brockhaus-Efron Oscillation 2Büste von Heinrich Hertz in KarlsruheBüste von Heinrich Hertz in KarlsruheDBP 1994 1710 Heinrich HertzDBP 1994 1710 Heinrich HertzDrawing of Heinrich Hertz spark radio transmitter and parabolic antenna 1888Drawing of Heinrich Hertz spark radio transmitter and parabolic antenna 1888

In their own words 3

,
Heinrich Hertz
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3 statements, newest first

  1. When a constant electric current flows along a cylindrical wire, its strength is the same at every part of the section of the wire.

    1889, "On the Propagation of Electric Waves by Means of Wires" (1889) Wiedemann's Annalen. 37 p. 395, & pp.160-161 of Electric Waves, Own words

  2. The rigour of science requires that we distinguish well the undraped figure of Nature itself from the gay-coloured vesture with which we clothe her at our pleasure.

    As quoted by Ludwig Boltzmann in a letter to Nature (28 February 1895), Own words

  3. It's of no use whatsoever.

    As quoted by Andrew Norton, Dynamic fields and waves (2000) p. 83., Own words

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Awards

CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame2001
Rumford Medal1890
Honorary Member of the Physics Association (Frankfurt Am Main, Germany)1890
La Caze Prize of the Academy of Sciences1889
Matteucci Medal1888
Bressa Prize1887

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Heinrich Hertz

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About this person

Heinrich Rudolf Hertz was born in Hamburg on 22 February 1857. A physicist working in Germany, he set out to test James Clerk Maxwell's mathematical predictions about electromagnetism - predictions that remained unproven and contested. In a series of careful experiments, Hertz became the first to conclusively demonstrate that electromagnetic waves existed and behaved exactly as Maxwell's equations described. The work opened the door to radio, radar, and every form of wireless communication that followed. He died on 1 January 1894, at thirty-six.

Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1857 to 1894 · aged 36

In common with Heinrich

Wolfgang PauliBoth received Matteucci MedalC. V. RamanBoth received Matteucci MedalGuglielmo MarconiBoth received Matteucci MedalWilliam Thomson, 1st Baron KelvinBoth received Matteucci MedalPierre CurieBoth received Matteucci MedalPieter ZeemanBoth received Matteucci Medal

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