Early Days
- Niels Henrik David Bohr was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on 7 October 1885 and lived till 18 November 1962.
- He was a Danish Physicist, a Philosopher and a promoter of Scientific research.
- Bohr completed his schooling from Gammelholm Latin School.
- Bohr was graduated in the field of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics from Copenhagen University in 1903.
- Bohr completed his Masters in Mathematics in April 1909.
- He made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory.
- He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922.
Bohr's Contribution in Physics
- Bohr found the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the University of Copenhagen which is now known as the Niels Bohr Institute which opened in 1920.
- Bohr mentored and collaborated with physicists including Hans Kramers, Oskar Klein, George de Hevesy, and Werner Heisenberg.
He predicted the existence of a new zirconium-like element, which was named hafnium.
- Later, the element bohrium was named after him.
Bohr's Atomic Models
- Bohr developed the Bohr model of the atom, in which he proposed that energy levels of electrons are discrete.
- He also proposed that the electrons revolve in stable orbits around the atomic nucleus but can jump from one energy level (or orbit) to another.
- An atom consists of orbitals (or shells) that are have a set energy level and size and these orbitals are what electrons travel on.
- The energy level of an orbital is proportional to the size of the orbital. It means that a higher energy orbital will be bigger than a lower energy orbital).
- When an electron jumps between orbitals, it’s energy level will change to the orbits energy level.
- Electrons are moving at a constant speed.