Physics 3rd Period
February 4, 2013
The Scientist’s Major Contributions Scientists have vast involvement and contribution in the development and advancement of human civilization. Throughout the history of the world, many scientists have devoted their lives for research and innovation. Some of them even faced a lot of torture for their theories but they continued their mission and thus we are now in a modern world. Some of those dedicated scientists are Benjamin Franklin, Robert Millikan, Charles-Augustin de Coulomb and Ernest Rutherford. Their major contributions and efforts have changed society has a whole and are correspondingly correlated. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading author, printer, politician, postmaster, political theorist, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, diplomat, civic activist, and a statesman. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. One of his contributions was the lighting rod. The lightning rod was designed to be mounted to the outside wall of the house. One end of the rod would point high up into the sky; the other end would be attached to a cable. This cable would lead down to the ground where it would be buried very deep. The cable was to transmit the electric charge from the lightning on to the ground, thereby preventing a fire. Robert Millikan was an American experimental physicist, and Nobel Peace Prize winner in physics for his measurement of the charge on the electron and for his work on the photoelectric effect. He served as Chair of the Executive Council at Caltech from 1921 to 1945, that school 's governing body at the time. He also served on the board of trustees for Science Service, now known as Society for Science & the Public, from 1921 to 1953. One of his major contributions like previously stated was the photoelectric
Cited: Davis, Felicia. "Rutherford, Ernest." â Biography â Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. N.p., 11 Jan. 2006. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. Duncan, Mark. "Benjamin Franklin And Electricity." About.com Inventors. Dictionary Reference, 12 May 2007. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. Smith, Henry. "Charles Coulomb Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 5 June 2008. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. Wilson, Sydney. "Robert A. Millikan Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.