Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (27 March 1845 – 10 February
1923) was a German physicist. He discovered X-rays on
November 8, 1895, at the University of Wurzburg in
Germany. X-rays are still called Röntgenstrahlen in Europe.
In 1901 he got the first Nobel Prize in Physics.
1845 – 1863
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
was born on March 27,1845
in Lennep, which belongs to
Remscheid nowadays.
His father was a cloth
manufacturer. However,
Wilhelm Conrad was the
only child of the family.
From 1861 until 1863,
Röntgen visited the Technical
School in Utrecht. However,
due to disciplinary causes he
was forced to leave school
without graduation.
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1846; 16th of October: Birth of the
anaesthesia
1848; 21st of February: Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engel published the Communist
Manifesto
21st of March: King Friedrich Wilhelm I rode
behind a black-red-golden flag through Berlin
18th of May: The first all-German parliament,
the Frankfurt National Assembly, was opened
in the Paul's Church
28th of June: The Frankfurt National
Assembly resolved the Bundestag (German
alliance)
1854; 13th of July: The general German
working-class fraternisation and all the other
political working-class unions were forbidden
1857; 24th of August: The economic crisis of
1857 began with the breakdown Ohio Life
Insurance Company.
1865 - 1869
Nevertheless, from 1865 until
1868, he managed to study at the
Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology Zurich. Thanks to the
fact that he passed the entrance
examination, he could enter the
polytechnic institute even without
graduation. In 1868, he graduated
and received the diploma of
mechanical engineering.
Afterwards, he did a postgraduate
course in physics, which was
tutored by August Kundt. Only a
year later, he received his
doctorate in physics at the
University of Zurich. His doctoral
thesis had elaborated on “study
about gases”.
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1866; Werner von Siemens
developed a dynamo. It was
the beginning of the a strong
stream technology and
electricity supply
24th of August: German
alliance in Augsburg dissolved
itself.
1867; 1st of July: The
constitution of the North
German alliance came into
force. Otto von Bismarck
became Federal Chancellor.
Nobel invented the dynamite.
1870 - 1872
In 1870, Röntgen
accompanied August Kundt as
an assistant to Wurzburg,
where he published his first
scholarly papers, as for
instance the thesis about the
“Annalen der Physik und der
Chemie“. Two years later, on
January 19, 1872, he married
Anna Bertha Ludwig In
Apeldoorn. She was the
daughter of an innkeeper from
Zurich.
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1870-1871; German-French war
1871; 18th of January: in the Hall of
Mirrors to Versailles King Wilhelm I of
Prussia was appointed emperor.
Proclamation of the German empire
(foundation of the Reich)
21st of March: In Berlin the first German
Reichstag is opened. Besides, emperor
Wilhelm I sat enthroned on the imperial
chair provided from Goslar Heinrichs III
21st of March: Otto von Bismarck was
appointed the Chancellor of the Reich
16th of April: The Bismarck imperial
constitution was passed as a law and to
the legal basis for the German empire.
10th of May: The peace negotiations
between France and Germany in
Frankfurt am Main ended with the peace
of Frankfurt.
"Cultural war" with the aim of the
separation of church and state
1872; 1st of January: The penal law for
all German federal states came into force
1874 - 1876
On March 13, 1874, Röntgen
received his habilitation at the
University of Straßbourg, even
though the University of
Würzburg had refused it
beforehand,because of his
missing leaving school
examination. Afterwards he
worked as a professor for
physics and mathematics at
the Agricultural Academy in
Hohenheim. Due to the wish of
his former teacher Kundt, he
took up a job as professor of
physics in Straßbourg.
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1876; 1st of January: The
Mark was introduced as a
common currency in all
German federal states.
1879 - 1887
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Moreover, in 1879 he got a
position as full professor in
Gießen; thus, it was the first
time during his scholarly when
he received a regular income.
In 1887, the
married couple put up
Josephine Bertha, when she
was six. They adopted the
child later.
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1879; • Passage of the two alliances between
Germany and Austria Hungary
1880; • 6th of November: The French military
physician Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran
discovered the malaria pathogen in a blood sample
Plasmodium falciparum.
1882; • 20th of May: The two alliance, which was
closed between Germany and Austria was
extended through Italy. Afterwards, it was the triple
alliance (until 1914/15).
1885; • 4th of January: In the USA, doctor William
W. Grant accomplished the first appendectomy in
the sick Mary Gartside.
• 10th of November: First trip of a motorcycle,
constructed of Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm
Maybach.
1886; • First cars with gasoline motor of Daimler
and Benz
1887; • 14th of January: The German parliament
was dissolved, because the model of the
government Otto of Bismarcks, to increase the
army by approximately 10 percent and to extend
the army law by further seven years, was rejected
It came to a parliament election.
1888 - 1895
On August 31 1888, prince
regent Luitpold appointed
Röntgen as professor of
experimental physics.
Additionally, he was elected
as headmaster of the
University of Würzburg in
1893. Eventually, it was the
place where he achieved his
scientist breakthrough. On 8
November 1895, he
investigated the electrical
power in gases and
discovered an invisibly
radiation, which unsheathed
the hidden interior of an
organism. With these x-rays,
he was able to depict the
hand of his wife on 22
December 1895. On this
picture, even bones and
wedding ring were clearly
identifiable.
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1888; • Wilhelm the II. became German
emperor
• 9th of March: Emperor Wilhelm 1st died
in the age of almost 91 years in Berlin. It
follows when emperor Friedrich III. his
oldest son, crown prince Friedrich
Wilhelm.
• 15th of June: The last emperor of the
German of empire, Wilhelm II. of
Hohenzollern, climbed the emperor throne
(three-emperor-year in Germany) after
death of his father.
1890; • 20th of March: Chancellor Otto of
Bismarck is released by emperor Wilhelm
II., its successor was Leo of Caprivi.
1895; • 8th of November Wilhelm Conrad
Roentgen discovered the x-ray rays.
1895 - 1896
At 28 December, he submitted
the scripture "Eine neue Art
von Strahlen" to the PhysicalMedically Association in
Würzburg. In the following
January, Röntgen reported
emperor Wilhelm II about his
detection. The first image of an
X-ray picture was published in
the „Wiener Klinische
Wochenschrift“ at the end of
the month. Thanks
to this publication, the
development of radiology was
forwarded.
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1895; • 8th of November Wilhelm
Conrad Roentgen discovered the
x-ray rays.
28th of December: Publication : A
new type of radiation appears. The
German physicist Wilhelm Conrad
Roentgen reported about its
discovery of the 8th of November
1896; • 1st of March: Antoine Henri
Becquerel discovered the
radioactivity during an experiment,
while she was developing
photographs in order to get some
new ideas about the x-ray
radiation.
• 29th of November: The Italian
physician Scipione Riva Rocci
conceived a blood pressure
measuring instrument
1900 - 1901
From the 1 April onwards,
Röntgen worked at University
of Munich as professor.
Moreover, he was the first
Nobel Prize Winner in physics.
However, he donated his prize
money, which amounted
50.000SEK for the University
of Würzburg. Equally, he
forsook a grant of parent,
which led to a fast spread
of X-Ray machines all over
Europe.
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1900; • First ascent of a zeppelin
(2.7.)
• 1st of January: In the German
empire, the Civil Law (BGB) and the
Code of Commercial Law (HGB)
came into force
• 17th of October: Bernhard of
Bülow became German chancellor.
• 14th of December: Birth hour of
the quantum theory.
1901; • 4th of January: In Weimar,
the first congress of the German
established free student bodies
began.
• Karl Landsteiner discovered the
AB0- system. Later on, he gets the
Nobel Prize for his detection.
Röntgen won the Nobel Prize
1919 - 1923
In 1919, Röntgens wife died
after a long disease. Röntgen,
however, became an honorary
member of the German hysical
Association even in the same
year. On 1 April 1920 he
started drawing his pension.
On 10 February 1923, he died
of intestinal cancer in the age
of 77 in Munich.
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1919; • Weimarer national
assembly
• signature of the peace contract in
Versailles
• 15th of January: Rosa
Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
were murdered by soldiers of the
corps-cavalry-marksman-division
in Berlin
• 11th of August: The Weimarer
national assembly gave Germany
a democratic parliamentary
constitution
1920; • 10th of January: The
peace contract of Versailles
became effective.
• Communists uprisings
1923; • 30th of November:
Wilhelm Marx, member of the
center party, became chancellor.
Places of activity from
Conrad Röntgen
He went to the technical School of Utrecht. But he was
expelled from the school because of misbehavior,
certainly without Abitur. But he still studied at the
Eidgenössichen technical highschool in Zurich, without
abitur. There he got a diplom as a mechanical engineer
and the promotion in physics in 1868.
Then he had a postgraduate studies in physics by
August Kundt.
22. June 1986: He doctorated with “studies about gases”
on the university in Zurich; he got a doctor in
philosophies…
… In 1870 he went with August Kundt to Wurzburg and
published his first scientific essay there.
Then he was an outside lecturer on the
Reichsuniversität of Strasbourg and got his habilitation
in 1874.
From 1875 he was a professor of physics and
mathematics on the agricultural academy in
Hohenheim …
… In 1875 he got once more a job in Strasbourg as a
professor of physics and mathematics. He and August
Kundt worked there on a proof of rotation of the
polarisatonsebene of light.
In 1879 he became a professor on the Justus-Liebiguniversity in Gießen; he got a fixed salary there.
In 1839 he became the head teacher on the University of
Wurzburg and discovered the “X-Strahlen” and concerned
with cathode rays.
In April 1900 he was a professor on the LudwigMaximilians-university of Munich till he died.
The phenomencn of x-rays
Introduction
X-rays, short-wave, high energy electromagnetic radiation, the
matter penetrating effect. The wavelength of X-rays is shorter than
that of visible light: The area ranges from 100 nanometers (1
nanometer equals 1 billionth of a meter) up to 0.01 Pikometer (1
Pikometer is 1 trillionth of a meter). The upper section will delineate
the X-ray radiation to the short-wave ultraviolet radiation and the
lower part of the gamma radiation.
1895 Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered this radiation in
experiments with gas discharge tubes - he studied with cathode
rays. He gave this invisible radiation due to their unknown nature
the name "X-rays." Described the X-ray properties of the later
named after him very closely and radiation received 1901 for his
work the first Nobel prize for physics.
Nature of X-rays
The shorter the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, the
greater energy and penetration power. In the case of X-rays,
therefore, one speaks for larger wavelengths near the ultraviolet
range of the spectrum from soft, corresponding to shorter
wavelengths at the bottom of the range of gamma-ray from hard
X-rays (see radioactivity). Overall, it divides the X-ray radiation in
six major fields - X-ray-UV through soft, soft, medium hard, tough
and hard X-rays. A mixture of X-rays with different wavelengths is
called a white X-ray radiation, while, for example, monochromatic
X-rays only a single wavelength. Monochromatic radiation can be
made of white X-rays to win, which will by a special filter will.
…
… Generally, X-ray radiation such as visible light by electron transitions
between the electron shells of an atom is created. In the case of the so-called
braking radiation - that is, in principle, white X-rays - the rays arise when fast
particles (mostly electrons) to matter (a "Target") and then take sharp
deceleration. During this process reaches a particle by its high energy
between the electrons of the inner shells and the nucleus of an atom-atom
matter. The fast particles therein is governed by the prevailing electric field
(core field) deflected, and this distraction with the emission of electromagnetic
radiation is connected. The energy of radiation is released from the amount
as large as the energy that the particles in the deceleration and deflection
learn - hence the name Bremsstrahlung. The intensity of the radiation is
greater the stronger the core field. See also atomic
In contrast to Bremsstrahlung is the so-called self-characteristic radiation
(also called secondary radiation). It arises, for example, when a fast particle
an electron from an inner shell knocks out and another electron from an outer
shell the vacant space on the inner shell occupies. The amount of radiation
energy is the energy difference between the two shells, although this
difference only certain values can take on - there are only certain transitions
possible. These values are for each atomic structure, and thus characteristic
for each material - hence the term radiation characteristic. This radiation can
be, inter alia, for certain investigation methods…
Production
The production of X-rays, for example, succeeds with the
help of an X-ray tube. It is a highly evacuated vacuum tube
in which electrons from a hot emerge. Then the electrons in
an electric field accelerate and then take on the anode. The
Coolidge tube - named after its American inventor William
David Coolidge - is hot tungsten. The anode is also usually
made from tungsten, but can also be made of molybdenum
or tantalum constructed. We know both X-ray tubes with
fixed as well as with rotating anode (anode rotation).
Because the impact of electrons on the anode material of the
bulk of the kinetic energy of the electrons is transferred into
heat, the anode must be cooled. The rotary anode can be
reached by rotation of the anode (up to 8 500 revolutions per
minute).
Properties of X-rays
X-rays penetrate matter seemingly effortless. But whether and
how strong the material is penetrated, depends on its density and
the atom locations from which it is composed. Sun rays penetrate
eg a medical X-ray image of the surrounding tissue is much
easier than the bone - which is why they appear on a
photographic film brighter than the tissue. General takes the
matter of penetrating the radiation intensity with the thickness
decrease. As a measure of this property is the so-called
Halbwertsdicke. They are practically the distance traveled by the
material at which the initial intensity of the half fell.
X-rays have a very high ionizing effect (see ionization) and on
living tissue burns and biological changes (see the biological
effect of radiation) cause. Its harmful effects will be, inter alia, by
the duration of exposure, the strength (dose) and type (hard or
soft X-ray radiation) is determined. For this reason, the handling
and working with X-rays in Germany by radiation protection
regulations (eg Röntgenverordnung) defined and regulated. Xrays, for example, by means of Geiger-Müller counters (see
Particle Detectors) demonstrate.
Fluorescence
X-rays calls in certain materials, such as the fluorescein dye, and
some salts of lanthanum showed fluorescence. It is a particular
form of luminescence - so the lights of certain substances for
energy intake by X-ray radiation. Replacing the photographic film
through a screen of fluorescent material is coated, the shape of
the impenetrable substances directly on the screen to be
considered. This technique uses such as in the X-ray fluoroscopy.
X-ray diffraction
X-rays can scatter on hochregulären a crystal lattice are flexed,
due to its small atomic distances as a finely structured diffraction
grating effect (see Interference). The resulting interference pattern
can be with the help of computers and related software show.
Applications of X-rays
In research, technology and medicine, there are X-rays
for many applications. For example, use X-rays, for
example in the X-ray non-destructive testing of
materials. The above-mentioned X-ray diffraction is
used for example to structure determination of new
crystals in the laboratory produced chemical
compounds. Almost every element provides for the
irradiation with X-rays, a characteristic spectrum (so
characteristic of radiation). Based on this phenomenon
are quite a number of spectroscopic analytical methods
and equipment have been developed, such as the Xray emission, X-ray absorption and X-ray fluorescence
spectroscopy. The latter uses including the
manufacture of concrete to control the composition of
the final product. The X-ray diagnostics is essential in
today's medicine to a method of analysis has become
routine. Known are the screening (eg in cases of
suspected tuberculosis), the X-ray photograph and
computed tomography (see Radiology). X-rays will also
be in radiotherapy to combat cancer.
Use of the x-ray rays
outside of the medicine
Investigation of works of art
Once, one uses x-rays to the investigation of works of art.
With their help, the manufacture technology is able to find
out its origin and the age of the work. Moreover one can
review whether it concerns a forgery. Because of the fact
that one cannot take an extract of the work, this method is
a test, which does not destroy the work. The x-ray picture
served also for the investigation of paintings. If for example
the origin of the work is not well known, thanks to this
method one can recognize the signature of the artist and
also a year date. Other painters often retouch paintings,
however, x-ray investigations make this also visible. The
operating was prohibited approximately 1916 in painting
collections in Germany, because one was afraid of any
unpredictable uncovering. Moreover, X-rays indicated even
the handwriting and also the painting technique; thus, it is
nowadays a rather routine procedure in cultural and
historical researches.
Investigation of mummy
The use of x-ray rays in the investigation of a mummy is a
destruction-free historical research. Otherwise, if one would open a
mummy, it would decompose. With x-rays, on can observe the
inside of a mummy, and even find hints to earlier illnesses, state of
former medicine and also techniques of mummification. Moreover,
one can acquire new knowledge about the life expectancy.
Additionally, a x-ray picture reveals bone injuries and their healing
course, which indicated surgical interventions of former cultures. All
above, one can figure out any violations through weapons and even
causes of death.
Further scopes (outside of the medicine)
- Criminological area: In this area, the x-ray rays are used for
fraud and the proof of forgery. The x-ray tube makes a layer
reception.
- Palaeontology (science, that engaged itself with petrified
remnants of animals and plants) : In this area, investigations
at fossils (plant petrification &animal petrification) and stones
was undertaken already nine months after the discovery of the
rays.
- In the '30's roof slates out of the Hunsrueck were examined
(part of the Rhine slate mountains) with x-ray rays.
- In material physics, chemistry and biochemistry dispersion is
used of x-ray rays for the structure clarification (z. B. the
structure clarification of the DNA).
- Moreover, with x-ray rays one can specify the elementary
composition of a material.
This was the Presentation
from Lea Bosold, Meike
Rehra and Lena Ring
List of References
www.wikipedia.de
 Texte, Themen und Strukturen:
Deutschbuch für die
Oberstufe. Cornelsen
 Der Brockhaus in 5 Bänden, 2003
 Schülerduden Geschichte, 2003
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