Wilhelm Conrad
Roentgen
1845-1923
His X-rays changed
medicine & technology
Structure
Biography
X-rays
Domains
Historical events
Interview with Roentgen
The First X-ray picture
Biography
Youth
Study
Work area
Youth
27th March 1845:
Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen was
born in Lennep (Remscheid)
1861-1863:
He visited the technical school in Utrecht;
He left without school leaving examination
Study
1865-1868:
Entrance exam instead of school leaving
examination;
Study of mechanical engineering in Zurich
1868:
Diploma as a mechanical engineer;
After that: study of physics
Work area
1870:
Publication of „Annalen of Physics and Chemistry“
8th November 1895:
Roentgen discovered the X-rays
22nd November 1895:
First X-ray pictures
28th December 1895:
Manuscript „A new kind of rays“ ("Eine neue Art von Strahlen");
Roentgen pointed to the medicine use at the publication;
The deadly side effects of the X-rays were unknown for a long time
1st April 1900:
Roentgen got the professorship at University Munich
10th December 1901:
Awarding of the Nobel Prize of Physics
1st April 1920:
Roentgen was retired in Munich
10th February 1923:
Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen died in Munich
Roentgen‘s labour
The X-RAYS
Pure research
The „X-rays“
Applications & property
Pure research
At the end of the 19th century many physicist worked on the
„Cathode ray tube“ that is built like this:
1. Closed glass flask
2. Tension source (a battery wouldn't produce enough tension,
so a spark inductor was used)
3. Anode
4. Cathode
5. Bright ray
The air is pumped out as much as
possible of a closed glass flask with
the help of a vacuum pump.
The tension source conducts the tension
in the discharge tube: the positive charge
to the anode and the negative one to the
cathode. A tension between the anode and
the cathode originates, so you can see a
bright ray.
The „X-rays“
On 8th November 1895 Roentgen carried out the experiment with a charge. He
covered the discharge tube completely with black paper, and light couldn't get
out of the tube. Next to the building he put up a screen with a special mass that
lighted up when it was illuminated. The screen lighted up, although light
couldn't get out of the discharge tube through the black paper. Because of
different reasons the rays couldn't be cathode rays. He took the screen and
carried it to the tube. After that the light became stronger and the bones of his
fingers appeared on the screen. So the rays came through the human body.
Roentgen called them X-rays.
Ultra-violet
Infrared
Glass flask
Black paper
Screen
Visible beams of light
X-rays
Applications & Property
Application
•
•
•
•
in medicine
in metallurgy
in technology
in chemical
Fundamental research
(very important)
Property
•
invisible for human
eyes
•
ionisers air, gas and
light molecules
•
carcinogenic
•
short wave light
Domains
Universities
Roentgen's work
Zurich
Doctorate of physics at
University
Zurich
Strasbourg
Habilitation at University
Strasbourg
Hohenheim
Professorship in Physics and
Mathematic at agricultural
Academy Hohenheim
Giessen
Vocation to Giessen as professor
Wuerzburg
Vocation for an ordination in
Wuerzburg; Election as a
vice-chancellor at
University Wuerzburg
Munich
Roentgen got the professorship
at University Munich
Historical events during
his lifetime
1870's
1880's
1890's
1900's
1910's
1870's
1870–1872:
German-French War
18th January 1871:
Foundation of the German Reich
1873:
Three-Emperor-Agreement (Germany, Austria, Russia) in Berlin was signed
1878:
Otto von Bismarck's law against social democracy
1879:
Alliance between Germany and Austria
1880's & 1890’s
1882:
Italy became part of the alliance between
Germany and Austria (till 1914/15)
1881-1889:
Installation of Bismarck's social laws in Germany: Health insurance,
accident insurance and pension insurance scheme
25th January 1890:
The German sovereign assembly declined the bill of the government about
the prolongation of the socialist law for an indefinite period
1st April 1892:
Installation of the Central European Time as standardized time for the entire
Germany
5th December 1894:
Emperor Wilhelm II. opened the German sovereign assembly building in
Berlin
1900's & 1910’s
8. April 1904:
Entente Cordinale (Alliance between Great Britain and France to solve a
conflict of interests)
14. Dezember 1911:
First person reached the South Pole
1912:
Maiden voyage and sinking of the Titanic
1914-1918:
First World War
1918:
November Revolution in Germany
1919:
Foundation of the Weimarer Republic
Interview with
Roentgen
References: Google: WIKIPEDIA;
ROENTGEN BIOGRAPHY; PHYSICS FOR
KIDS; Book: MENSCHEN DIE DIE WELT
VERÄNDERTEN
Made by: Julia Habelmann
Sarah Schäfer
Mira Siedentop