Biography of Faraday. Great Scientists
Michael Faraday (1791-1867), English physicist, founder of the theory of the electromagnetic field.
Born September 22, 1791 in London in the family of a blacksmith. Early began working in a bookbinding workshop, where he became interested in reading. Michael was shocked by the articles on electricity in the Encyclopædia Britannica: "Conversations on Chemistry" by Madame Marse and "Letters on Various Physical and Philosophical Matters" by L. Euler. He immediately tried to repeat the experiments described in the books.
The talented young man attracted attention, and he was invited to listen to lectures at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. After some time, Faraday began working there as a laboratory assistant.
From 1820 he worked hard on the idea of combining electricity and magnetism. Subsequently, this became the work of the whole life of the scientist. In 1821, Faraday for the first time carried out the rotation of a magnet around a current-carrying conductor and a current-carrying conductor around a magnet, that is, he created a laboratory model of an electric motor.
In 1824 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of London. In 1831, the scientist discovered the existence of electromagnetic induction, and in subsequent years established the laws of this phenomenon. He also discovered extra currents during the closing and opening of an electrical circuit, and determined their direction.
Based on experimental material, he proved the identity of "animal" and "magnetic" thermoelectricity, electricity from friction, galvanic electricity. Passing current through solutions of alkalis, salts, acids, in 1833 he formulated the laws of electrolysis (Faraday's laws). Introduced the concepts of "cathode", "anode", "ion", "electrolysis", "electrode", "electrolyte". Designed a voltmeter.
In 1843, Faraday experimentally proved the idea of conservation of electric charge and came close to discovering the law of conservation and transformation of energy, expressing the idea of the unity of the forces of nature and their mutual transformation.
The creator of the doctrine of the electromagnetic field, the scientist expressed the idea of the electromagnetic nature of light (memoirs "Thoughts on ray vibrations", 1846).
In 1854, he discovered the phenomenon of diamagnetism, and three years later - paramagnetism. He laid the foundation for magneto-optics. Introduced the concept of electromagnetic field. This idea, according to A. Einstein, was the most important discovery since the time of I. Newton.
Faraday lived modestly and quietly, preferring experiments to everything.
Died August 25, 1867 in London. The ashes rest in London's Highgate Cemetery. The scientist's ideas are still waiting for a new genius
Date of birth: September 22, 1791
Date of death: August 25, 1867
Place of birth: pos. Newington Butts, London
Michael Faraday- scientist. Michael Faraday(Michael Faraday), is an English scientist who studied science at the intersection of physics and chemistry. Became a pioneer in the field of electromagnetic fields.
Michael first saw the light in September 1791 on the outskirts of London. The family was not prosperous - father James worked as a blacksmith. Despite the non-aristocratic origin, the future scientist was drawn to knowledge from an early age. Unfortunately, at the age of 13, he left school in order to try to earn money. Michael's first job was outdoors, delivering printed matter.
Soon, James manages to get into a bookstore as an apprentice. Even then, he was most interested in books related to chemistry or physics. The future scientist immediately tried to put what he read in these books into practice - he set up various experiments. Father and brother helped as best they could. The support was both moral and financial. The family was not against the home laboratory, where experiments continued. Faraday shared their results with urban society, where discussions were held on the problems of physics, astronomy, and philosophy.
In 1812, an insignificant event took place, from which, in fact, the countdown of Faraday's real scientific career began. In the book workshop where the young talent worked, one day a scientist appeared. Seeing an interest in the exact sciences, the scientist gave a ticket to Michael.
The ticket gave the right to attend the lectures of G. Davy, a star in the field of chemistry. Faraday not only attended these lectures, but wrote them down and thought them over carefully. At the same time, Faraday decided to take a more serious step - he wrote a letter to the lecturer asking for a job. Davy was surprised by the knowledge of the young man, but he could not provide work at that time.
A few months later, the vacancy nevertheless opened up, and Faraday enters the laboratory as an employee. There he feels like a fish in water, tirelessly conducts research and experiments. The result is not long in coming - Michael synthesizes benzene, receives liquefied chlorine. He also started lecturing.
In 1821, the first working model of an electric motor was born. It is easy to guess that Faraday was its author. For the next ten years, the scientist has been studying the interaction of magnetic and electric fields. Devi sees the success of his student. Perhaps jealousy of them has become the cause of tense relations between scientists.
Faraday continues his selfless work. Describes electromagnetic induction. Today, many current generators operate on the basis of principles discovered by scientists back in the 18th century.
Work is also being carried out at the level of sciences. Physics and chemistry came together in the laws of electrolysis discovered by Faraday. Now these laws are named after the scientist.
Inspired, the scientist conducts new experiments and discovers diamagnetism, formulates the "field concept".
Suddenly there are problems with memory. Work and lectures are given to Faraday with great difficulty. He is trying to work in a mansion allocated to him near London.
In August 1867 the scientist died. It happened at his desk.
Achievements of Michael Faraday:
M. Faraday discovered a number of basic laws in physics and chemistry, giving impetus to subsequent discoveries. With his filing, many electromagnetic mechanisms are currently functioning.
Was at the origins of the discovery of stainless steel.
Achieved the rotation of the magnet around the conductor, which is energized. It was a prototype electric motor.
All gas liquefaction technologies are based on Faraday's experiments.
Current generators are modified mechanisms based on electromagnetic induction.
Introduced many chemical and physical terms
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Dates from the biography of Michael Faraday:
September 22, 1791 was born in Newngton Butts.
1813 began to work as a laboratory assistant in a chemical laboratory.
1816 first acted as a lecturer.
1820 discovered a way to produce stainless steel.
1824 received liquid chlorine from gaseous.
1825 synthesized hexachlorane
1833 Fuller Professor at the Royal Institution. Invented the voltmeter. Discovered and formulated the laws of electrolysis.
1845 discovered "Faraday effects", diamagnetism.
1847 discovered the phenomenon of paramagnetism.
1852, the "field concept" was first described and formulated.
1855 onset of a disease associated with memory loss.
August 25, 1867 - died at his Hampton Court mansion.
Interesting Michael Faraday Facts:
Not having completed his studies at school, he did not even receive a secondary education.
Like many gifted people, he was interested in various areas of science and art. Was on a short footing with C. Dickens.
Attributed not only physical properties to a pocket magnet. He carried it with him everywhere, hoping that he would bring good luck.
72 diverse scientific societies accepted him as a full member.
He participated in public lectures, almost never canceled his speech at any of them.
He belonged to a sect that insisted on a literal interpretation of the Bible.
The English physicist Michael Faraday, who grew up in a poor family, became one of the greatest scientists in the history of mankind. His outstanding achievements were made at a time when science was the lot of people born into privileged families. The unit of electrical capacitance, the farad, is named after him.
Faraday (physicist): short biography
Michael Faraday was born on September 22, 1791 in the British capital London. He was the third child in the family of James and Margaret Faraday. His father was a blacksmith who was in poor health. Before marriage, his mother worked as a maid. The family lived in poverty.
Until the age of 13, Michael attended a local school, where he received his primary education. To help the family, he started working as a messenger in a bookstore. The boy's diligence impressed his employer. A year later, he was promoted to apprentice bookbinder.
Binding and science
Michael Faraday wanted to know more about the world; he did not limit himself. After diligent daily work, he spent all his free time reading books that he bound.
Gradually, he discovered that he became interested in science. He especially liked two books:
- The Encyclopædia Britannica is the source of his knowledge of electricity and much more.
- "Chemistry Conversations" - 600 pages of accessible chemistry by Jane Marse.
He was so fascinated that he began to spend part of his meager income on chemicals and apparatus in order to confirm the truth of what he read.
Expanding his scientific knowledge, he heard that John Tatum was about to give a series of public lectures on natural philosophy (physics). To attend the lectures, one had to pay a fee of one shilling - too much for Michael Faraday. His older brother, a blacksmith, impressed by his brother's growing devotion to science, gave him the necessary amount.
Acquaintance with Humphry Davy
Faraday took another step towards science when William Dance, a bookstore customer, asked Michael if he would like to get tickets for lectures at the Royal Institution.
The lecturer, Sir Humphry Davy, was one of the world's most famous scientists of the day. Faraday jumped at the chance and attended four lectures on one of the newest problems in chemistry - the determination of acidity. He watched the experiments that Davy conducted in lectures.
This was the world he wanted to live in. Faraday kept notes and then made so many additions to the notes that he produced a 300-page manuscript, which he himself bound and sent to Davy as a thank you.
At this time, in the backyard of a bookstore, Michael began to conduct more complex experiments in creating an electric battery from copper coins and zinc discs separated by wet salt paper. He used it to break down chemicals like magnesium sulfate. In this field of chemistry, Humphry Davy was a pioneer.
In October 1812, Faraday's apprenticeship ended and he began working as a bookbinder for another employer he found distasteful.
There would be no happiness, but misfortune helped
And then a happy event happened for Faraday. As a result of an unsuccessful experiment, Humphry Davy was injured: this temporarily affected his ability to write. Michael managed to keep notes for several days for Davy, who was impressed by the book he had sent him.
When the short period of work as an assistant ended, Faraday sent a note to the scientist asking him to hire him as his assistant. Shortly thereafter, one of Davy's lab assistants was fired for misconduct, and Humphrey asked Michael if he would like to fill the vacancy.
Wouldn't he like to work at the Royal Institution with one of the most famous scientists in the world? It was a rhetorical question.
Career at the Royal Institution
He was well paid and was given a room to stay in the attic of the Royal Institute. Michael was very pleased, and his connection with this institution was no longer interrupted for 54 years, during which he managed to become a professor of chemistry.
Faraday's job was to prepare apparatus for experiments and lectures at the Royal Institution. At first, he dealt with nitrogen trichloride, an explosive that injured Davy. Michael also briefly lost consciousness during the next explosion, and when Humphrey was injured again, the experiments with this compound were stopped.
After 7 months at the Royal Institution, Davy took Faraday with him on an 18-month tour of Europe. During this time, Michael managed to meet great scientists such as Andre-Marie Ampère in Paris and Alessandro Volta in Milan. In a sense, the tour replaced his university education - Faraday learned a lot during this time.
For most of the tour, however, he was unhappy, for in addition to scientific and secretarial work he had to attend to Davy and his wife. The scientist's wife did not consider Faraday an equal because of his origin.
Upon returning to London, everything fell into place. The Royal Institute renewed Michael's contract and increased his remuneration. Davy even began to mention his help in scientific papers.
In 1816, at the age of 24, Faraday gave his first lecture on the properties of matter. It took place in the City Philosophical Society. At the same time, in the Quarterly Scientific Journal, he published his first scientific article on the analysis of calcium hydroxide.
In 1821, at the age of 29, Faraday was promoted to the position of head of the household and laboratory of the Royal Institute. In the same year he married Sarah Barnard. Michael and his wife lived at the institute for most of the next 46 years, no longer in the attic, but in a comfortable room that had once been occupied by Humphry Davy.
In 1824, the biography of Faraday (physics) was marked by his election to the members of the Royal Society. This was a recognition that he had become a notable scientist.
In 1825 the physicist Faraday became director of the laboratory.
In 1833 he became Fuller's professor of chemistry at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Faraday held this position for the rest of his life.
In 1848 and 1858 he was offered the chair of the Royal Society but declined.
Scientific achievements
It would take more than one book to describe Faraday's discoveries in physics. It is no coincidence that Albert Einstein kept photographs of only three scientists in his office: Isaac Newton, James Maxwell and Michael Faraday.
Oddly enough, although the word “physicist” began to be used during the scientist’s lifetime, he himself did not like it, and he always called himself a philosopher. Faraday was a man who made discoveries through experiments, and he was known for never giving up on ideas he came up with through scientific intuition.
If he thought the idea was worth it, he continued experimenting despite many failures until he achieved what he expected or until he was convinced that Mother Nature had proven him wrong, which was extremely rare.
So what did Faraday discover in physics? Here are some of his most notable achievements.
1821: discovery of electromagnetic rotation
It was the harbinger of what would eventually lead to the creation of the electric motor. The discovery was based on Oersted's theory of the magnetic properties of a wire through which an electric current passes.
1823: gas liquefaction and refrigeration
In 1802, John Dalton suggested that all gases could be liquefied at low temperatures or high pressures. The physicist Faraday proved this empirically. He first turned chlorine and ammonia into a liquid.
Liquid ammonia was also interesting because, as Michael Faraday noted, the physics of its evaporation process caused cooling. The principle of cooling by means of artificial evaporation was publicly demonstrated by William Cullen in Edinburgh in 1756. Using a pump, the scientist lowered the pressure in the flask with ether, which resulted in its rapid evaporation. This caused cooling, and ice formed on the outside of the flask from the moisture in the air.
The importance of Faraday's discovery was that mechanical pumps could turn a gas into a liquid at room temperature. Then the liquid evaporated, cooling everything around, the resulting gas could be collected and compressed into a liquid again by means of a pump, repeating the cycle. This is how modern refrigerators and freezers work.
In 1862, at the London World's Fair, Ferdinand Carré demonstrated the world's first commercial ice-making machine. The machine used ammonia as a coolant and produced ice at a rate of 200 kg per hour.
1825: discovery of benzene
Historically, benzene has become one of the most important substances in chemistry, both in a practical sense, that is, it is used in the creation of new materials, and in a theoretical sense, in understanding the chemical bond. A scientist has discovered benzene in the oily residue of a lighting gas production plant in London.
1831: Faraday's law, formula, physics of electromagnetic induction
This was an extremely important discovery for the future of science and technology. Faraday's law (physics) states that an alternating magnetic field induces an electric current in a circuit, and the generated current is directly proportional to the rate of change.
For example, moving a horseshoe magnet along a wire produces an electric current, as the movement of the magnet causes an alternating magnetic field. Prior to this, the only source of current was the battery. Michael Faraday, whose discoveries in physics showed that motion could be converted into electricity, or, in more scientific terms, kinetic energy could be converted into electrical energy, is thus responsible for the fact that most of the energy in our homes today is produced from this principle.
Rotation (kinetic energy) is converted into electricity by electromagnetic induction. And rotation, in turn, is obtained by the action of high-pressure steam on the turbines created by the energy of coal, gas or atom, or by water pressure in hydroelectric power plants, or by air pressure in
1834: laws of electrolysis
Faraday, a physicist, made a major contribution to the creation of a new science of electrochemistry. It explains what happens at the interface between the electrode and the ionized substance. Thanks to electrochemistry, we use lithium-ion batteries and accumulators that power modern mobile technology. Faraday's laws are important to our understanding of electrode reactions.
1836: Invention of the shielded camera
The physicist Faraday discovered that when an electrical conductor is charged, all the excess charge accumulates on its outer side. This means that inside a room or a cage made of metal, no additional charge appears. For example, a person dressed in a Faraday suit, that is, with a metal lining, is not exposed to external electricity. In addition to protecting people, the Faraday cage can be used to conduct electrical or electrochemical experiments that are sensitive to external interference. Shielded cameras can also create dead zones for mobile communications.
1845: discovery of the Faraday effect - a magneto-optical effect
Another important experiment in the history of science was the experiment that first proved the connection between electromagnetism and light, which in 1864 was fully described by the equations of James Clerk Maxwell. The physicist Faraday established that light is an electromagnetic wave: “When the opposite magnetic poles were on the same side, this had an effect on the polarized beam, which thus proves the connection between magnetic force and light ...
1845: discovery of diamagnetism as a property of all matter
Most people are familiar with ferromagnetism from ordinary magnets. Faraday (a physicist) discovered that all substances are diamagnetic - weakly for the most part, but there are also strong ones. Diamagnetism is opposite to the direction of the applied magnetic field. For example, if you place the north pole near a strongly diamagnetic substance, then it will repel. Diamagnetism in materials, induced by very strong modern magnets, can be used to achieve levitation. Even living things like frogs are diamagnetic and can float in a strong magnetic field.
End
Michael Faraday, whose discoveries in physics revolutionized science, died on August 25, 1867 in London at the age of 75. His wife Sarah lived longer. The couple had no children. All his life he was a devout Christian and belonged to a small Protestant sect called the Sandemanians.
Even during his lifetime, Faraday was offered burial in Westminster Abbey, along with the kings and queens of Great Britain and scientists, like Isaac Newton. He declined for a more modest ceremony. His grave, where Sarah is also buried, can be found in Highgate Cemetery in London.
(1791-1867) English physicist, founder of the general theory of electromagnetism
The future famous English physicist was born in September 1791 in London in the family of a blacksmith James Faraday. Lack of funds did not allow him to get a good education. Michael Faraday said that his education "was the most ordinary" and included the initial skills in reading, writing and arithmetic received in a regular day school. Since childhood, he was brought up with love for work, honesty and pride.
When Michael was 12 years old, he was apprenticed to the owner of a bookshop and bookbinding workshop, Georges Ribot. Here he first dealt with the delivery of books and newspapers, and later mastered the bookbinding to perfection. Working in the workshop, Faraday read a lot and voraciously, trying to make up for the shortcomings of education. He was especially interested in electricity and chemistry. Michael organized a home chemical-physical laboratory and began to do the experiments described in the books himself.
He was not an exceptional child. Lively and sociable, he differed from other boys of his age only in a slightly greater curiosity, incredulity in words, and stubbornness of an independent character. Ribot, the owner of the shop, encouraged Michael's passionate desire for self-education in every possible way.
Mr. Danes, a member of the Royal Society of London, often came into the bookbinding. Drawing attention to the young bookbinder, voraciously reading books and finishing the study of the latest issue of a serious scientific journal, he invited him to listen to a series of lectures by his friend, professor of chemistry, Sir Humphry Davy. These lectures fascinated Michael, he carefully took notes of them. On Dan's advice, Faraday rewrote the notes cleanly, bound them beautifully, and sent them to Davy, enclosing a letter asking for research opportunities.
Davy initially turned Michael down due to lack of a vacancy, but an accident helped Faraday. During one of the experiments in the laboratory, the explosion of the flask burned Davy's eyes, and he could neither write nor read. Then a famous scientist invited Michael to temporarily work as a secretary. Some time later, in March 1813, the 22-year-old Faraday became Davy's laboratory assistant at the Royal Institution in London. When in the future Davy is asked about his most important achievement, he will answer that his most important discovery was the discovery of Faraday.
In the autumn of the same year, Michael, as a laboratory assistant and valet, goes with G. Davy and his wife on a one and a half year trip to Europe. This trip greatly contributed to the formation of his scientific views. In Paris, and then in Switzerland, Italy and Germany, he met many prominent representatives of European science, including Gay-Lussac and Volta, and received excellent training as an experimenter. Michael helped Davy in his experiments during lectures, participated in conversations with scientists. Faraday begins to speak fluent French and German, subsequently corresponding with some scientists.
In the summer of 1815, having returned to England, he continued to work as a laboratory assistant at the Royal Institution. But this is another Faraday, a more mature, one might say, mature scientist. Being self-taught, from 1815 to 1822 he was mainly engaged in research in chemistry. Michael quickly takes the path of independent creativity, and Davy's pride often has to suffer from the student's success. Michael Faraday's first work appeared in print in 1816.
In August 1820, he learns of Oersted's discovery, and from that moment on, his thoughts absorb electricity and magnetism. He begins his famous experimental research and writes in his diary: "Turn magnetism into electricity." It took the famous scientist almost 10 years to solve this problem.
In the summer of 1821, when his colleagues went on vacation, Faraday managed to carry out an experiment with the rotation of a magnet around a current-carrying conductor and a current-carrying conductor around a magnet, thereby creating a laboratory model of an electric motor. In 1825, he was appointed director of the laboratory of the Royal Institute, replacing G. Davy in this post. The year before, he entered the English scientific elite, becoming a member of the Royal Society of London, and in 1830 he was elected a member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In 1827, Faraday received a professorship at the Royal Institute, and in the years 1833-1860 he was a professor in the department of chemistry.
His scientific work has always been connected with experiment. He very carefully recorded all his experiments, including unsuccessful ones, in a special diary, the last paragraph of which was numbered 16041. Faraday was not a mathematician, and there was not a single formula in his diaries, since he appreciated the physical essence, the mechanism of the phenomenon, not mathematical apparatus. During the experiments, Michael Faraday did not spare himself. He did not pay attention to the spilled mercury used in the experiments; not without explosions of devices when working with liquefied gases. All this seriously shortened his life. In one of the letters, he wrote that during the experiment there was an explosion that injured his eyes. Thirty shards of glass were taken out of them.
On October 17, 1831, Faraday's ten-year hard work was rewarded - the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction was discovered. To explain induction, he later introduces the concept of a field, which is extremely important for physics, and gives its visual representation with the help of lines of force.
Since November 1831, Michael Faraday begins to publish his diary in the form of an extensive work "Experimental Research on Electricity", which consists of 30 series of more than 3000 paragraphs. These series reflect the twenty-four-year work of the scientist, they contain his life, thoughts and views. This work is a magnificent monument to Faraday's scientific creativity. The last, thirtieth series was published in 1855.
In 1833, he conducts a cycle of research on electrochemistry and establishes the laws of electrolysis, called Faraday's laws. He introduced into physics such concepts as cathode, anode, ions, electrolysis, electrodes, electrolytes.
Since 1835, he began to deal with the problems of electrostatics. In 1837, Faraday discovered the influence of dielectrics on the electrical interaction, i.e., the polarization of dielectrics, and introduced the concept of dielectric constant.
It is believed that due to poisoning with mercury vapor in 1840, Faraday's health deteriorated sharply, and he was forced to interrupt work for four years. Returning to scientific activity, in 1845 he discovered the phenomenon of diamagnetism and the phenomenon of rotation of the plane of polarization of light in a substance placed in a magnetic field. These discoveries lead him to think about the electromagnetic nature of light. In 1847 he discovers the phenomenon of paramagnetism.
Outwardly, the monotonous life of Faraday is striking in terms of creative tension. In total, from 1816 to 1860, he published 220 works. More than 60 scientific societies and academies have elected him as their member.
Michael Faraday was characterized by kindness, modesty, benevolence, extraordinary decency and honesty. “Faraday was of medium height, lively, cheerful, his movements were fast and confident; dexterity in the art of experimentation is incredible. Accurate, accurate, all - devotion to duty ... He lived in his laboratory, among his tools; he went to her in the morning and left in the evening with the precision of a merchant who spends the day in his office. He devoted his whole life to staging more and more new experiments, finding in most cases that it is easier to make nature speak than to unravel it.
The moral type that appeared in the person of Faraday is truly a rare phenomenon. His liveliness, gaiety are reminiscent of an Irishman; his reflective mind, the power of his logic, are reminiscent of Scottish philosophers; his stubbornness was reminiscent of an Englishman stubbornly pursuing his goal ... ".
Hard work broke Faraday's mental strength. And he was forced to abandon all other activities, giving himself undividedly to science. Increasingly, he complains of a weakening of memory, that he "forgets what letters to depict this or that word." In this state, he spends many years, narrowing the circle of his activities. A brilliant lecturer, he leaves the institute at the age of 70.
In 1860, Faraday practically left scientific activity due to illness and spent the rest of his life at the Hampton Court estate.
On August 25, 1867, at the age of 75, Michael Faraday died. His ashes rest in Highgate Cemetery in London.
His life was full of deep inner content, his name became the designation of a unit of electrical capacity and one of the fundamental physical constants, his deeds are immortal.
The discoveries in physics of the English scientist, the founder of the theory of the electromagnetic field, influenced the development of science.
Michael Faraday invented what?
The scientist devoted a lot of time to methodical work. That is, when discovering the effect, Michael tried to study it as deeply as possible, to find out all the parameters and characteristics.
Since Michael Faraday made the discovery of electromagnetic induction, and he is considered the founder of the doctrine of the electromagnetic field, his discoveries are important:
- The scientist created the first model of an electric motor.
- Invented the electric motor and transformer.
- He discovered the chemical effect of current and the effect of a magnetic field on light.
- He discovered the laws of diamagnetism and electrolysis.
- predicted electromagnetic waves.
- He discovered rotations of the plane of polarization of light in a magnetic field. This phenomenon was later named after him - the Faraday effect.
- Discovered isobutylene and benzene.
- He introduced such terms into science as cathode, anode, ion, electrolyte, paramagnetism, dielectric and diamagnetism.
Faraday in 1836 proved the following - an electric charge acts exclusively on the surface of a closed-type conductor shell, without exerting absolutely any effect on the objects inside the shell. He made this discovery thanks to experiments carried out in a device invented by himself - in the "Faraday cage".
Often the government involved a physicist in solving various technical problems, for example, how to protect ships from corrosion, the examination of court cases, the improvement of lighthouses, and the like.
