Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Hans Christian Ørsted (14 August 1777 – 9 March 1851) was a Danish physicist and chemist who made a groundbreaking discovery linking electricity and magnetism. He found that electric currents create magnetic fields, marking the first established connection between these two phenomena. This discovery paved the way for the study of electromagnetism and had a profound impact on the field of physics. The concepts of Oersted’s law and the oersted unit (Oe) are named after him.
As a significant figure of the Danish Golden Age, Ørsted was closely associated with Hans Christian Andersen and was also the brother of politician and jurist Anders Sandøe Ørsted, who served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 1853 to 1854.
Life and Career
Hans Christian Ørsted was born in Rudkøbing in 1777. His fascination with science emerged during his youth while assisting his father, a pharmacist at the local pharmacy. He and his brother, Anders, received much of their initial education through self-guided studies at home. In 1793, they both undertook entrance exams for the University of Copenhagen and excelled academically. By 1796, Ørsted’s scholarly achievements were recognized with honors for his work in both aesthetics and physics. He completed his doctorate in 1799 with a dissertation based on Kant’s ideas, titled “The Architectonics of Natural Metaphysics.”
In 1800, Ørsted was inspired by Alessandro Volta’s invention of the voltaic pile and embarked on his exploration of electricity through his initial experiments. In 1801, he secured a travel scholarship and public grant that enabled him to spend three years touring science centers across Europe, including notable locations like Berlin and Paris.
Legacy and Awards
Hans Christian Ørsted’s profound contributions to the realm of electromagnetism are commemorated by the naming of the centimetre-gram-second system (CGS) unit of magnetic induction, which is known as the “oersted.” His pioneering work laid the foundation for the understanding of the intricate relationship between electricity and magnetism, leading to the development of modern electromagnetism theories and applications.
On 14 August 2009, a Google Doodle was created to celebrate Hans Christian Ørsted’s Birthday.
