Rutherford of Nelson, Ernest Rutherford, Baron

Rutherford of Nelson, Ernest Rutherford, Baron
born Aug. 30, 1871, Spring Grove, N.Z.
died Oct. 19, 1937, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Eng.

New Zealand-born British physicist.

After studies at Canterbury College, he moved to Britain to attend Cambridge University, where he worked with J.J. Thomson at the Cavendish Laboratory. He would later teach at McGill University in Montreal (1898–1907) and Victoria University in Manchester (1907–19) before becoming chair of the Cavendish Laboratory (from 1919). At the laboratory in the years 1895–97 he discovered and named two types of radioactivity, alpha decay and beta decay. He later identified the alpha particle as a helium atom and used it in postulating the existence of the atomic nucleus. With Frederick Soddy he formulated the transformation theory of radioactivity (1902). In 1919 he became the first person to disintegrate an element artificially, and in 1920 he hypothesized the existence of the neutron. His work contributed greatly to understanding the disintegration and transmutation of radioactive elements and became fundamental to much of 20th-century physics. In 1908 he was awarded the Nobel Prize. He was knighted in 1914 and ennobled in 1931. Element 104, rutherfordium, is named in his honour.

Ernest Rutherford, oil painting by J. Dunn, 1932; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Courtesy of The National Portrait Gallery, London

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Rutherford , Ernest — Rutherford , Ernest, first baron Rutherford of Nelson (1871–1937) New Zealand physicist Rutherford, who was born at Nelson in New Zealand, was certainly the greatest scientist to emerge from that country; he can also fairly be claimed to be one… …   Scientists

  • Rutherford,Ernest — Rutherford, Ernest. First Baron Rutherford of Nelson. 1871 1937. New Zealand born British physicist who classified radiation into alpha, beta, and gamma types and discovered the atomic nucleus. He won the 1908 Nobel Prize in chemistry. * * * …   Universalium

  • Ernest Rutherford — Ernest Rutherford, Barón Rutherford de Nelson y de Cambridge, (Brightwater, Nueva Zelanda, 30 de agosto de 1871 Cambridge, Reino Unido, 19 de octubre de 1937) fue un físico británico. Se le considera el padre de la física nuclear. Descubrió la… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Ernest Rutherford — Este artículo o sección necesita referencias que aparezcan en una publicación acreditada, como revistas especializadas, monografías, prensa diaria o páginas de Internet fidedignas. Puedes añadirlas así o avisar al a …   Wikipedia Español

  • Rutherford — /rudh euhr feuhrd, ruth /, n. 1. Daniel, 1749 1819, Scottish physician and chemist: discoverer of nitrogen. 2. Ernest (1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson), 1871 1937, English physicist, born in New Zealand: Nobel prize for chemistry 1908. 3. John… …   Universalium

  • baron — /bar euhn/, n. 1. a member of the lowest grade of nobility. 2. (in Britain) a. a feudal vassal holding his lands under a direct grant from the king. b. a direct descendant of such a vassal or his equal in the nobility. c. a member of the House of …   Universalium

  • Baron — /bann rddawonn /, n. Michel /mee shel /, (Michel Boyron), 1653 1729, French actor. * * * I Title of nobility, ranking in modern times immediately below a viscount or a count (in countries without viscounts). The wife of a baron is a baroness.… …   Universalium

  • Ernest — /err nist/, n. a male given name: from an Old English word meaning vigor, intent. * * * (as used in expressions) Ernest Banks Bevin Ernest Bloch Ernest Borlaug Norman Ernest Boulanger Georges Ernest Jean Marie Chausson Amédée Ernest Durocher Leo… …   Universalium

  • nelson — /nel seuhn/, n. Wrestling. a hold in which pressure is applied to the head, back of the neck, and one or both arms of the opponent. Cf. full nelson, half nelson, quarter nelson, three quarter nelson. [1885 90; special use of name Nelson] * * *… …   Universalium

  • Nelson — /nel seuhn/, n. 1. Viscount Horatio, 1758 1805, British admiral. 2. (John) Byron, born 1911, U.S. golf player. 3. a river in central Canada, flowing NE from Lake Winnipeg to Hudson Bay. 400 mi. (645 km) long. 4. a seaport on N South Island, in… …   Universalium

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