Max Planck,
the son of a professor of law, was born in Kiel, Germany, on 23rd
April, 1858. He studied physics at the University of Munich (1874-1877)
and the University of Berlin (1877-78) before receiving his doctorate
in 1879.
He taught
at the University of Munich before being appointed associate professor
at the University of Kiel. Planck researched into the manner in
which heated bodies radiate energy led him to argue that energy
is emitted only in indivisible amounts, called "quanta",
the magnitudes of which are proportional to the frequency of the
radiation.
Planck's
theories were in conflict with classical physics and his work is
said to have marked the commencement of modern science. Albert
Einstein used Planck's quantum theory to explain photoelectricity
and Niels Bohr successfully applied the
quantum theory to the atom. In 1918 Planck was awarded the Nobel
Prize for Physics.
In 1930
he was appointed as president of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in
1930. An opponent of Adolf Hitler, Planck
resigned his position in 1937 in protest against the decision by
Bernard
Rust,
the minister of education, to sack Jewish
teachers from Germany's universities.
Planck
refused to work on any of Germany's war research projects. In 1944
Planck's youngest son, Erwin Planck was arrested and charged with
involvement in the July Plot against Adolf
Hitler. He was killed while being tortured by the Gestapo
in 1945. Max Planck died on 4th October, 1947.
(1)
Albert Einstein, was in Germany in
1922 when the Jewish politician Walther
Rathenau was assassinated. He wrote a letter to Max Planck describing
his fears about his own safety.
A
number of people who deserve to be taken seriously have independently
warned me not to stay in Berlin for the time being and, especially,
to avoid all public appearances in Germany. I am said to be among
those whom the nationalists have marked for assassination. Of course,
I have no proof, but in the prevailing situation it seems quite
plausible.
The trouble
is that the newspapers have mentioned my name too often, this mobilizing
the rabble against me. I have no alternative but to be patient -
and to leave the city. I do urge you to get as little upset over
the incident as I myself.
(2)
Max Planck, Scientific Autobiography (1949)
An
important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually
winning over and converting its opponents: it rarely happens that
Saul becomes Paul. What does happen is that its opponents gradually
die out, and that the growing generation is familiarized with the
ideas from the beginning.
