ERNEST RUTHERFORD: BIOGRAPHY AND MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS - SCIENCE - 2024

Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937) was a New Zealand scientist who made great contributions to the field of physics and chemistry through his studies of radioactivity and the structure of the atom. He is regarded as the father of nuclear physics for his pioneering discoveries about atomic structure.

His contributions to science include the discovery of alpha and beta radioactivity, an atomic model of the atom, the radio wave detector, the rules of radioactive decay and the identification of alpha particles as helium nuclei.

Biography

Childhood and studies

Ernest Rutherford was born on August 30, 1871, in Nelson, New Zealand. His education took place at the University of New Zealand and later at the University of Cambridge.

From a young age, he made evident his ability and especially the curiosity that arithmetic produced in him. His parents noticed this quality in him and, together with his teachers, encouraged him to continue his studies.

He turned out to be an exemplary student and that is how he got a place at Nelson College. In this institution he ended up being the best student in all the subjects.

In the sports field, he leaned towards Rugby, a sport that he also practiced in college.

Faculty

He developed a taste for teaching and participated as a professor in different universities throughout his life. He first taught physics at McGill University located in Montreal, Canada. He then moved to the University of Manchester in England and stayed there for more than a decade.

At the end of this long period of time, he served as teacher and director of the Cavendish laboratory and finally directed a course at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.

In 1931 Rutherford achieved professional fame, however, this was one of the hardest years for the renowned scientist, since he lost his only daughter during childbirth.

In 1937, after uncomplicated surgery, Rutherford's health suddenly declined. This is how he died on October 19, 1937 in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

He was buried next to Isaac Newton and Kelvin, two great characters who, like him, revolutionized science.

Contributions to science

Discovered alpha and beta radioactivity

In 1898, Rutherford began his studies on the radiation emitted by uranium. His experiments led him to conclude that radioactivity must have at least two components, which he called alpha and beta rays.

He found that alpha particles are positively charged and that beta rays have more penetrating power than alpha rays. He also named gamma rays.

He discovered that atoms were not indestructible

Together with chemist Frederick Soddy, he created the Theory of Atom Disintegration, involving the spontaneous disintegration of atoms into other types of atoms.

The disintegration of the atoms of radioactive elements was a key discovery at that time, since until then it was believed that atoms were a class of indestructible matter.

Thanks to his discoveries in the area of ​​the decay of elements and in the chemistry of radioactive elements, Rutherford won the Nobel Prize in 1908.

Formulated an atomic model of the atom

Together with scientists Geiger and Mardsen, he conducted one of the most famous experiments in science.

Under Rutherford's direction, the scientists conducted a series of experiments between 1908 and 1913, where they pointed beams of alpha particles at thin sheets of metal and then measured the spread pattern using a fluorescent screen.

Thanks to this, they discovered that although most of the particles flew directly, some bounced in all directions, including some that returned directly to the source.

This was impossible to justify with the ancient model of the atom, so Rutherford interpreted the data to formulate Rutherford's atomic model in 1911.

Invented a radio wave detector

The German physicist Heinrich Hertz proved the existence of electromagnetic waves in the late 1880s.

Rutherford decided to measure its effect on magnetized steel needles. This experiment led him to invent a detector for what we now call radio waves. This radio receiver became a part of the communications revolution known as wireless telegraphy.

Rutherford improved his device and for a short time he held the world record for the distance that electromagnetic waves could be detected.

Although Rutherford was surpassed by Marconi, his discovery is still considered an important contribution in this field.

Discovered the atomic nucleus

Through the gold foil experiments, Rutherford discovered that all atoms contained a nucleus where their positive charge and most of their mass were concentrated.

His model of the atom contained the new feature that a high central charge concentrated in a small volume of the atom was responsible for most of its mass.

In his model, the nucleus was orbited by low-mass electrons. This model proceeded to Bohr's atomic model, which applied quantum theory.

His discovery of the atomic nucleus is considered his greatest contribution to science.

Discovered the proton

In 1917, he became the first person to transform one item into another. She converted nitrogen atoms to oxygen atoms by bombarding nitrogen with alpha particles. This was the first observation of an induced nuclear reaction and is regarded as the discovery of the proton.

In 1920, Rutherford proposed the hydrogen nucleus as a new particle and established the term proton for it.

He theorized the existence of the neutron

In 1921 he theorized that there must be a neutral particle in the nucleus of the atom to compensate for the repulsive effect of positively charged protons by creating an attractive nuclear force; without any particles, the nucleus would collapse.

For this reason, Rutherford theorized the existence of the neutron and established the term by which it is known today.

The neutron was discovered in 1932 by scientist James Chadwick who had studied and worked with Rutherford.

Father of nuclear physics

Thanks to his work in the field, such as conducting the first nuclear reaction, proving the nature of radioactive decay as a nuclear process, and establishing the structure of the atom, he is known as the father of nuclear physics.

His work was of great importance in future research and development in the field.

Rutherford also served as an inspiration and mentor to many scientists; a large number of his students went on to win Nobel prizes. He was also considered the greatest experimentalist since Faraday.

Work and recognitions

In 1896, when radioactivity was discovered by the physicist Antoine Henri Becquerel, Rutherford identifies and establishes three main elements of radiation, which he named alpha, beta and gamma rays, thus demonstrating that alpha particles are helium nuclei.

This allowed him to describe his theory of atomic structure, which turned out to be the first theory to detail the atom as a dense nucleus and specify that electrons revolve around it.

In 1908 he was the winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and obtained the appointment of Sir in 1914. Among his greatest written works are: Radioactivity (1904), Radiations of radioactive substances (1930) and The New Alchemy (1937).

The scientist was appointed President of the Royal Society between 1925 and 1930. He was also awarded the Franklin Medal in 1924.

After seven years, already by 1931, he would have reached the nobility and in his country he was recognized as a heroic character. For this reason he felt a great bond with his country of birth.

References

1. Ernest Rutherford: father of nuclear science. Recovered from media.newzealand.com.
2. Ernest Rutherford - Important scientists - the physics of the U. Recovered from phys Componentesheuniverse.com.
3. Ernest Rutherford's 10 major contributions to science (2016) Retrieved from learndo-newtonic.com.
4. Ernest Rutherford. Recovered from wikipedia.org.