Heinrich Hertz

Heinrich Hertz

Heinrich Hertz

Born	22 February 1857
Birth place	Hamburg, Germany
Died	1 January 1894
Place of death	Bonn, Germany
Nationality	German
Known for	Electromagnetic waves

Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (22 February 1857 – 1 January 1894) was a German physicist who first conclusively proved the existence of the electromagnetic waves theorized by James Clerk Maxwell's electromagnetic theory of light. His experiments were pivotal in the development of modern wireless communication and radio technology.

Early Life and Education

Heinrich Hertz was born in Hamburg, Germany, into a prosperous and cultured family. His father, Gustav Ferdinand Hertz, was a lawyer and later a senator. His mother, Anna Elisabeth Pfefferkorn, was the daughter of a physician. Hertz showed an early interest in science and engineering, and he studied at the University of Munich and the University of Berlin, where he was influenced by the work of Hermann von Helmholtz.

Scientific Contributions

Electromagnetic Waves

Hertz's most significant contribution to science was his experimental proof of the existence of electromagnetic waves. In 1886, he began a series of experiments at the University of Karlsruhe to test Maxwell's equations, which predicted the existence of such waves. Hertz used a spark-gap transmitter and a loop antenna to generate and detect radio waves, demonstrating that they traveled through space at the speed of light.

The Hertzian Oscillator

Hertz developed the Hertzian oscillator, a device that produced electromagnetic waves. This apparatus consisted of a pair of metal rods with a spark gap between them, connected to an induction coil. When a high voltage was applied, a spark would jump across the gap, generating electromagnetic waves.

The Photoelectric Effect

Hertz also discovered the photoelectric effect, which occurs when light falling on certain substances causes them to emit electrons. Although he did not fully understand the phenomenon, his observations laid the groundwork for Albert Einstein's later explanation of the effect, which was crucial to the development of quantum theory.

Legacy

Hertz's work laid the foundation for the development of radio, television, and radar. The unit of frequency, the hertz (Hz), is named in his honor, reflecting his pivotal role in the study of electromagnetic waves.

Personal Life

Hertz married Elisabeth Doll in 1886, and they had two daughters. Despite his promising career, Hertz's life was cut short by illness. He died of granulomatosis with polyangiitis at the age of 36.

Also see

• James Clerk Maxwell
• Electromagnetic spectrum
• Radio waves
• Photoelectric effect
• Hertz (unit)