August Kundt
Encyclopedia
August Adolf Eduard Eberhard Kundt (18 November 1839 – 21 May 1894) was a German
physicist
.
in Mecklenburg
. He began his scientific studies at Leipzig
, but afterwards went to Berlin University. At first he devoted himself to astronomy
, but coming under the influence of H. G. Magnus, he turned his attention to physics
, and graduated in 1864 with a thesis on the depolarization of light.
In 1867 he became privatdozent
in Berlin University, and in the following year was chosen professor of physics at the Federal Polytechnic Institute in Zurich
, where he was the teacher of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
; then, after a year or two at Würzburg
, he was called in 1872 to Strasbourg
, where he took a great part in the organization of the new university
, and was largely concerned in the erection of the Physical Institute. Finally in 1888 he went to Berlin as successor to Hermann von Helmholtz
in the chair of experimental physics and directorship of the Berlin Physical Institute. He died after a protracted illness at Israelsdorf, near Lübeck
, on 21 May 1894.
for example, when dusted over the interior of a tube in which is established a vibrating column of air, tends to collect in heaps at the nodes, the distance between which can thus be ascertained. An extension of the method renders possible the determination of the velocity of sound in different gases. This experimental apparatus is called a Kundt's Tube
. In 1876 at Strasbourg in collaboration with Emil Warburg
, Kundt proved that mercury vapor is a monatomic gas
. In light, Kundt's name is widely known for his inquiries in anomalous dispersion, not only in liquids and vapors, but even in metal
s, which he obtained in very thin films by means of a laborious process of electrolytic deposition upon platinized glass. He also carried out many experiments in magneto-optics, and succeeded in showing what Faraday
had failed to detect, the rotation under the influence of magnetic force of the plane of polarization in certain gases and vapors.
Very interesting work was performed by A Kundt on plant physiology and clorophyl light frequencies absorption (Kundt's rule), centred around wavelengths of 6800A. This work may or may not have been complementary to E. Warburg work and theories. It was subsequently refined and expanded by R. Houston and O. Biermacher and others.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
Biography
Kundt was born at SchwerinSchwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
in Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
. He began his scientific studies at Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, but afterwards went to Berlin University. At first he devoted himself to astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, but coming under the influence of H. G. Magnus, he turned his attention to physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, and graduated in 1864 with a thesis on the depolarization of light.
In 1867 he became privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
in Berlin University, and in the following year was chosen professor of physics at the Federal Polytechnic Institute in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, where he was the teacher of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was a German physicist, who, on 8 November 1895, produced and detected electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range today known as X-rays or Röntgen rays, an achievement that earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901....
; then, after a year or two at Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, he was called in 1872 to Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, where he took a great part in the organization of the new university
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
, and was largely concerned in the erection of the Physical Institute. Finally in 1888 he went to Berlin as successor to Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions to several widely varied areas of modern science...
in the chair of experimental physics and directorship of the Berlin Physical Institute. He died after a protracted illness at Israelsdorf, near Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
, on 21 May 1894.
Assesment
As an original worker, Kundt was especially successful in the domains of sound and light. In 1866, he developed a valuable method for the investigation of aerial waves within pipes, based on the fact that a finely divided powder, lycopodiumLycopodium
Lycopodium is a genus of clubmosses, also known as ground pines or creeping cedar, in the family Lycopodiaceae, a family of fern-allies...
for example, when dusted over the interior of a tube in which is established a vibrating column of air, tends to collect in heaps at the nodes, the distance between which can thus be ascertained. An extension of the method renders possible the determination of the velocity of sound in different gases. This experimental apparatus is called a Kundt's Tube
Kundt's tube
Kundt's tube is an experimental acoustical apparatus invented in 1866 by German physicist August Kundt for the measurement of the speed of sound in a gas or a solid rod...
. In 1876 at Strasbourg in collaboration with Emil Warburg
Emil Warburg
Emil Gabriel Warburg was a German Jewish physicist who during his career was professor of physics at the Universities of Strassburg, Freiburg and Berlin. He was president of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft 1899-1905. He was a friend of Albert EinsteinHe was a member of the Warburg family...
, Kundt proved that mercury vapor is a monatomic gas
Monatomic gas
In physics and chemistry, monatomic is a combination of the words "mono" and "atomic," and means "single atom." It is usually applied to gases: a monatomic gas is one in which atoms are not bound to each other....
. In light, Kundt's name is widely known for his inquiries in anomalous dispersion, not only in liquids and vapors, but even in metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
s, which he obtained in very thin films by means of a laborious process of electrolytic deposition upon platinized glass. He also carried out many experiments in magneto-optics, and succeeded in showing what Faraday
Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday, FRS was an English chemist and physicist who contributed to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry....
had failed to detect, the rotation under the influence of magnetic force of the plane of polarization in certain gases and vapors.
Very interesting work was performed by A Kundt on plant physiology and clorophyl light frequencies absorption (Kundt's rule), centred around wavelengths of 6800A. This work may or may not have been complementary to E. Warburg work and theories. It was subsequently refined and expanded by R. Houston and O. Biermacher and others.