May 10 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 10 In Physics History - Births – Physicists born on May 10
Cecilia Payne (10 May 1900 - 7 Dec 1979)
She was an English-American astronomer who was the first to conclude that hydrogen and helium are the most common elements in the universe. She was also the first to apply the laws of atomic physics to the study of the temperature and density of Stellar bodies. In her doctoral thesis, she claimed that the sun’s spectrum consisted of 99% hydrogen with helium and just 1% iron. It took 20 years to confirm her claim by Fred Hoyle.
John Desmond Bernal (10 May 1901 - 15 Sep 1971)
He was an Irish physicist and X-ray crystallographer who began his research in 1923 at the Royal Institution in London on the structure of graphite. He contributed to X-ray crystallography which helped in determining the structures of solid compounds. He trained many scientists such as Aaron Klug, Dorothy Hodgkin, and Max Perutz who won the Noble Prize. He participated in the RAF bombing strategy and post-war rebuilding during WWII.
Augustin Jean Fresnel (10 May 1788 - 14 Jul 1827)
He was a French physicist who showed that white light is composed of a spectrum of innumerable wavelengths. He was the first to investigate the effect of interference of light known as Fresnel fringes. This supported the theory of light by Thomas Young. Fresnel advanced the wave theory and demonstrated that light is a transverse wave rather than longitudinal waves. He also improved the optical system of lighthouses by replacing metal reflectors with his revolutionary stepped lenses.
May 10 - Deaths – Physicists died on May 910
Thomas Young (13 Jun 1773 - 10 May 1829)
He was an English physician, egyptologist, and physicist who discovered that the shape of the eye lenses changes to focus. He also studied the theory of light and the interference of light. He demonstrated polarization of light, interference fringes, wave nature of light and explained the various colors seen in thin films such as soap bubbles. Young’s modulus is named after his work with elasticity. He also helped to decipher the Rosetta Stone as an egyptologist.
May 10 - Events – Physics Events of May 10
The Highest Voltage Generated
The highest ever generated potential difference of 32 million volts was produced by the national electrostatics corporation in 1979, on this day. The company was testing the newly installed Pelletron accelerator model. The voltage tests had been conducted before the installation of the acceleration tubes on 7th May 1979. Since then this 25MV electrostatic accelerator is in use at OTNL producing radioactive ion beams for research.