Contents
Heinrich Hertz
Proving that radio waves exist.
Radio waves · Photoelectric observation
- Born
- 22 February 1857
- Birthplace
- Hamburg, Germany
- Died
- 1 January 1894
More people
Heinrich Hertz
Heinrich Hertz was a German experimental physicist who tested Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory with sparks, wires and detectors.
Early life
Hamburg
Showed early strengths in both science and languages.
Berlin
Earned his doctorate in 1880 under Hermann von Helmholtz.
Career
- 1883
Kiel
Began teaching theoretical physics.
- 1885
Karlsruhe
Became professor and conducted his landmark wave experiments.
- 1889
Bonn
Took charge of the university’s physics institute.
Contributions
Radio waves
Generated and detected electromagnetic waves in the laboratory.
Photoelectric observation
Noticed that ultraviolet light could help sparks cross a gap.
Principles of Mechanics
His final theoretical book appeared after his death.
Beyond the lab
Family
Married Elisabeth Doll; their daughter Mathilde became a biologist.
Everyday legacy
The hertz, a unit of frequency, is named after him.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Robert Krewaldt, Kaiserplatz 16, Bonn. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
