Gordon Ferrie Hull
Encyclopedia
Gordon Ferrie Hull was a Canadian / American
teacher
, mathematician
and physicist
, especially known for the experimental detection of the radiation pressure exerted by light which he achieved in 1903.
He attended Toronto University where he obtained his batchelors degree in 1892 and became a Fellow in physics, University of Toronto
1892-1895 .
Hull earned his 1897 doctorate of physics at the University of Chicago
and was later a professor of physics there at Colby College. Thereafter (1899–1940), he taught physics at Dartmouth College
. In addition, he had a research position at Cambridge University (1905–1906) and taught physics at Columbia University
(1909–1915). As well as his academic career he was conscripted into the army in both World War I (1918–1919) and World War II (1941–1944) as Major, in the U.S. Army Ordnance Department.
He married Wilhelmine Brandt on September 5, 1911. He had one son, Gordon Ferrie Hull, Jr.
He is especially famous for his 1903 experiment conducted with Ernest Fox Nichols
in which they were the first to demonstrate the radiation pressure
exerted by a beam of light. The apparatus is now known as the Nichols radiometer
. Much of this apparatus is now in the Smithsonian, thanks to the generosity of Gordon F. Hull, Jr.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and 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...
, especially known for the experimental detection of the radiation pressure exerted by light which he achieved in 1903.
Life
Hull began his career in 1890-1891 as a teacher of mathematics and science at Hamilton Collegiate Institute, Ontario.He attended Toronto University where he obtained his batchelors degree in 1892 and became a Fellow in physics, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
1892-1895 .
Hull earned his 1897 doctorate of physics at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and was later a professor of physics there at Colby College. Thereafter (1899–1940), he taught physics at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. In addition, he had a research position at Cambridge University (1905–1906) and taught physics at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(1909–1915). As well as his academic career he was conscripted into the army in both World War I (1918–1919) and World War II (1941–1944) as Major, in the U.S. Army Ordnance Department.
He married Wilhelmine Brandt on September 5, 1911. He had one son, Gordon Ferrie Hull, Jr.
He is especially famous for his 1903 experiment conducted with Ernest Fox Nichols
Ernest Fox Nichols
Ernest Fox Nichols was a U.S. educator and physicist. He was born in Leavenworth County, Kansas, and received his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University in 1888. After working for a year in the Chemistry Department at Kansas State, he matriculated to graduate school at Cornell...
in which they were the first to demonstrate the radiation pressure
Radiation pressure
Radiation pressure is the pressure exerted upon any surface exposed to electromagnetic radiation. If absorbed, the pressure is the power flux density divided by the speed of light...
exerted by a beam of light. The apparatus is now known as the Nichols radiometer
Nichols radiometer
A Nichols radiometer was the apparatus used by Ernest Fox Nichols and Gordon Ferrie Hull in 1901 for the measurement of radiation pressure. It consisted of a pair of small silvered glass mirrors suspended in the manner of a torsion balance by a fine quartz fibre within an enclosure in which the air...
. Much of this apparatus is now in the Smithsonian, thanks to the generosity of Gordon F. Hull, Jr.
Publications
- Survey of Modern Physics (1936) Author
- Elementary Modern Physics (1948) Author