DR.

KAMRUN NAHAR MUKTA

Associate professor, AIUB
Department of Physics
Max Planck and His Inventions

Group members: A Short biography:

Tanvir Rahaman Zihad (23-50619-1)
Shahriar Ahsan Joha (23-50664-1)
Jubair Ibney Fahim (23-50700-1)
Imrul Hoque Sayem (23-50685-1)
Mahi Rahman (23-50643-1)
Max Planck’s Background
Why Max Plank: Max Planck was a pioneering physicist
who made significant contributions to the development of
quantum mechanics. Planck's work laid the foundation for our
current understanding of the behavior of particles at the
atomic and subatomic level. Max Planck inspired us about his
persistence in the face of challenges, as he was initially met
with resistance and skepticism in his development of
quantum mechanics. Despite this, he continued to pursue his
ideas and eventually made groundbreaking discoveries that
revolutionized the field of physics.
His patience and pursuit for knowledge, contributions to the
Fig: Max Planck in 1933 modern science and the story of his success ultimately lead us
to choose him.
Inventions or contribution to scientific world:
Max Planck was a German physicist who made several significant contributions to
the scientific world, particularly in the field of quantum mechanics. Some of his
key inventions and contributions are:
• Planck's law: In 1900, Planck introduced his law of blackbody radiation, which
explains the distribution of energy emitted by a blackbody, based on its temperature.
This law was a critical step towards the development of quantum mechanics.
• Quantum theory: Planck's discovery of the quantum of action, a fundamental
constant of nature, paved the way for the development of quantum mechanics. He
introduced the concept that energy is not continuous but rather comes in small,
indivisible packets or quanta.
Planck's constant: Planck's work on
blackbody radiation led him to introduce
Planck's constant, which is a fundamental
constant of nature and has become a
cornerstone of modern physics.
• Max Planck (1858-1947) was a German physicist who is widely regarded as
the father of quantum theory. He was born in Kiel, Germany, and grew up in
a family of academics. After completing his studies in physics and
mathematics, Planck went on to become a professor at the University of
Berlin, where he spent most of his career.
• In 1900, Planck made a groundbreaking discovery that led to the development
of quantum theory.
• He discovered that energy emitted by a body was not continuous but instead
came in discrete packets, or quanta. This discovery upended the classical Fig: Planck (President
understanding of physics and laid the foundation for the development of of Kaiser Wilhem)
modern physics.
• Planck remained active in the scientific community until his death in 1947 at the age of 89. His work
continues to be a cornerstone of modern physics, and his contributions to the field are still celebrated
and studied by scientists around the world.
Max Planck’s Childhood
Family and Birth: Max Planck was born on April 23, 1858, in Kiel,
Germany. His father, Johann Julius Wilhelm Planck, was a professor of law,
and his mother, Emma Pelzig, came from a family of lawyers. Planck was the
sixth child of his parents and showed an early aptitude for music, playing the
piano and violin. In 1867, when Planck was just nine years old, his family
moved to Munich, where his father had obtained a teaching position at the
University of Munich.
Education: Planck attended the Maximilian’s Gymnasium in Munich, where
he excelled in his studies, especially in mathematics and physics. In 1874, at
Fig: Yong Max Planck
the age of 16, Planck began his university studies at the University of Munich..
Despite his early interest in music, Planck chose to pursue a career in physics, becoming one of
the most important theoretical physicists of the 20th century. His contributions to the field
include the development of quantum mechanics, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in
Physics in 1918.
His Achievements (in conclusion):
Max plank’s life was full of successive works. His achievements are too many to discuss in brief.
Some of them are included in the following:
Professor in Berlin University: Planck studied at the Universities of Munich and Berlin, where his
teachers included Kirchhoff and Helmholtz, and received his doctorate of philosophy at Munich in
1879. He was Privatdozent in Munich from 1880 to 1885, then Associate Professor of Theoretical
Physics at Kiel until 1889, in which year he succeeded Kirchhoff as Professor at Berlin University.

The Nobel Prize: Max plank formulated plank’s radiation law which h was a revolutionary chapter in
Fig: Planck’s Constant physics. For his contribution to science, he was awarded the Nobel prize in 1918.

• Research on thermodynamics: Planck was a key figure in the development of

thermodynamics and made significant contributions to the understanding of entropy,
the second law of thermodynamics, and the thermodynamic properties of gases.

Overall, Max Planck's contributions revolutionized our understanding of the

nature of matter and energy, and laid the foundation for many of the
breakthroughs in physics and technology that followed in the 20th century.

Fig: The Planck Medal

Some interesting and attractive parts of his life
Max Planck was a German physicist who is considered to be the founder of
quantum theory. Here are some interesting and attractive parts of his life and
work:
Discovery: Planck is best known for his
discovery of the quantum of energy, which
he called "quanta." This revolutionary
idea led to the development of the field of
quantum mechanics, which has become
one of the most important areas of modern
physics.
• Plank medal: He was elected to foreign membership of the royal society in 1926, being awarded the
society’s Copley medal in 1928.After he achieved Max plank medal.
• Other Awards: The Prussian Academy of Sciences appointed him a member in 1894 and Permanent
Secretary in 1912. Afterwards he became President of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Promotion
of Science, a post he held until 1937.In 1945 he won Geothe prize for achievement worthy of honor
in memory of Johann Wolfgang Von Geothe.
• In conclusion, Max plank was both brilliant and man of manners. He was revered by his
colleagues not only for the importance of his discoveries but for his great personal qualities.
He was also a gifted pianist and is said to have at one time considered

Fig: Planck: The father of Quantum Mechanics Contribution to the society:

• Religious view: Planck was a deeply religious man and believed that science and faith During the war:
were complementary. He once wrote, "Both religion and science require a belief in Although Max Plank played many roles in science but he
God. For believers, God is in the beginning, and for physicists He is at the end of all lacks from the contribution in society. He made some
considerations.”. contribution in world war. Although most of the people left
The Nobel Prize: In 1918, Planck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work the country during the war, he told other scientists not to
on quantum theory. He was the second German to receive the award, after Wilhelm leave country. Provided financial assistance and told
Röntgen. everyone to believe that the financial condition of his
Rejected the Nazi’s: During World War II, Planck publicly spoke out against the Nazi country would soon improve.
regime and refused to join the Nazi Party. He also helped Jewish scientists escape from
Fig: The Haber-Bosch Process
Germany and provided financial support to those who had been forced to leave the
country.
• Love for music: Planck was an accomplished pianist and loved music. He often
played the piano for his family and friends, and once said, "Music is the one thing that If you like our work, please contact: Sources and References:
has given me the greatest enjoyment in life. It has always been a solace to me in my https://www.britannica.com/biography/Max-Planck
shahriahjoha2002@gmail.com (Shahriar Ahsan)
darkest hours." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Planck
Overall, Planck's work on quantum theory has had a profound impact on modern tzihad60@gmail.com (Tanvir Rahaman) www.max-planck.mpg.de
physics, and his commitment to morality and humanity make him a role model for
many.

Poster / Course: Phy 1101 / Section: C2 / BSc EEE