May 1 in Physics History
Physics history will help you to develop a better understanding of the physics world!
birthdays & deaths
Explore all birthdays & deaths of physicists occurred on this day with their short biography!
physics Events
Know all important discoveries made by physicists & events happened on this day with complete information!
May 1 in Physics History - Births – Physicists born on May 1
Adam Schall von Bell (1 May 1591 - 15 Aug 1666)
He was a German astronomer who revised the Chinese calendar and translated Western Astronomical books. Emperor Shun-Chih made him his advisor of the Ch’ing dynasty. But, he lost his power after Shun-Chih died. He was found guilty of plotting against the emperor and state. Hence, was commuted.
Scott Carpenter (1 May 1925 - 10 Oct 2013)
He was an American astronaut who was the sixth to fly in space. His spaceflight was the second US mission to orbit the Earth. It was launched on 24 May 1962 from Cape Canaveral. It orbited the Earth three times and landed back 4-hr 56-min later. While aboard, he conducted some basic experiments such as testing whether solid food could be eaten in space. Later, he wrote novels.
Johann Jakob Balmer (1 May 1825 - 12 Mar 1898)
He was a Swiss mathematician and physicist who discovered a formula basic to the development of atomic theory. His most important work was on spectral series by giving a formula relating the wavelengths of the spectral lines of the hydrogen atom in 1885. Wavelengths are accurately given using h=3,4,5,6.
May 1 in Physics History - Deaths – Physicists died on May 1
J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. (27 Nov 1923 - 1 May 2011)
He was a Black-American physicist, engineer, and mathematician. He was the seventh African American to obtain a Ph.D. in mathematics. When he was 13, he entered the Chicago University. He developed radiation shielding against gamma radiation emitted during electron decay of the Sun and other nuclear sources. To calculate the amount of gamma radiation absorbed by a material, he developed mathematical models. This technique is widely used in space and nuclear science projects.
May 1 in Physics History - Events – Physics Events of May 1
Neptune Moon Was Discovered
The second satellite of Neptune, Nereid was discovered by Gerard Kuiper in 1949. It is the third-largest and outermost satellite of Neptune. Its orbit is slightly odd and the most highly eccentric. This indicates that it might be a captured asteroid. Nereid refers to the sea nymphs in the Mediterranean sea.
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard space flight center in Greenbelt was named in memory of Robert Goddard in 1959. This was NASA’s first space flight center and was dedicated on 16 March 1961. Although Robert Goddard died in 1945, he was the one who made the first successful liquid-fuelled rocket test in 1926. His many principles were being used in modern rocketry. He was also awarded the Langley Medal and the US government agreed to pay his widow $1 million in settlement for the applications from more than 200 of his patents.
