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The Origin and Development of the Quantum Theory: with "A Scientific Autobiography"
Quantum physics originated from Max Planck’s great discovery of the quantum of energy in 1900. Exactly how was the quantum revolution ignited by Planck? Were there some devious roads he walked during his discovery? In his fascinating Nobel Lecture and Scientific Autobiography, which are carefully edited in this book, Planck told us how he discovered the quantum “after a few weeks of the most strenuous work” of his life, and what “an unexpected vista began to appear” after the darkness was lifted. In particular, he vividly recollected the wrong paths that he followed during his discovery, which may be the most intriguing part of his quantum story for general readers.
Besides, this little book also includes Einstein’s famous tribute to Planck at his 60th birthday celebration, as well as an excerpt of the memorial address delivered by Max von Laue, Planck's former student and later his colleague and friend. These materials will further help us to understand what a quantum man Planck was and why he became a "reluctant" revolutionary.
Book Excerpt:
My mind absorbed avidly, like a revelation, the first law I knew to possess absolute, universal validity, independently from all human agency: The principle of the conservation of energy. I shall never forget the graphic story Müller told us, at his raconteur's best, of the bricklayer lifting with great effort a heavy block of stone to the roof of a house. The work he thus performs does not get lost; it remains stored up, perhaps for many years, undiminished and latent in the block of stone, until one day the block is perhaps loosened and drops on the head of some passerby.
The effect of my dissertation on the physicists of those days was nil. None of my professors at the University had any understanding for its contents, as I learned for a fact in my conversations with them.
My futile attempts to fit the elementary quantum of action somehow into the classical theory continued for a number of years, and they cost me a great deal of effort. Many of my colleagues saw in this something bordering on a tragedy. But I feel differently about it. For the thorough enlightenment I thus received was all the more valuable.
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.
Besides, this little book also includes Einstein’s famous tribute to Planck at his 60th birthday celebration, as well as an excerpt of the memorial address delivered by Max von Laue, Planck's former student and later his colleague and friend. These materials will further help us to understand what a quantum man Planck was and why he became a "reluctant" revolutionary.
Book Excerpt:
My mind absorbed avidly, like a revelation, the first law I knew to possess absolute, universal validity, independently from all human agency: The principle of the conservation of energy. I shall never forget the graphic story Müller told us, at his raconteur's best, of the bricklayer lifting with great effort a heavy block of stone to the roof of a house. The work he thus performs does not get lost; it remains stored up, perhaps for many years, undiminished and latent in the block of stone, until one day the block is perhaps loosened and drops on the head of some passerby.
The effect of my dissertation on the physicists of those days was nil. None of my professors at the University had any understanding for its contents, as I learned for a fact in my conversations with them.
My futile attempts to fit the elementary quantum of action somehow into the classical theory continued for a number of years, and they cost me a great deal of effort. Many of my colleagues saw in this something bordering on a tragedy. But I feel differently about it. For the thorough enlightenment I thus received was all the more valuable.
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.
- GenresScience
31 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2012
119 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Max Planck
276 books168 followersMax Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck was a German theoretical physicist who originated quantum theory, which won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.
Planck made many contributions to theoretical physics, but his fame rests primarily on his role as originator of the quantum theory. This theory revolutionized human understanding of atomic and subatomic processes, just as Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity revolutionized the understanding of space and time. Together they constitute the fundamental theories of 20th-century physics.
Planck made many contributions to theoretical physics, but his fame rests primarily on his role as originator of the quantum theory. This theory revolutionized human understanding of atomic and subatomic processes, just as Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity revolutionized the understanding of space and time. Together they constitute the fundamental theories of 20th-century physics.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 1, 2018
Short and sweet
This little book can easily be read in a single sitting. In it, Planck describes a very profound principle in a clear and simple manner: Entropy underlies every physical process, and it is in fact the most fundamental thing in nature, even more so than energy. Planck describes the derivation of Boltzmann's constant, k, which Boltzmann didn't introduce, and Planck's constant, h, the quantum of action. The fact that this constant can be interpreted both in terms of action (energy x time) and angular momentum is significant, because the angular momentum of all spinning objects is an integer multiple of h.
Planck mentions there were two opposing interpretations of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Boltzmann belonged to the school that believes that all processes are reversible but systems "tend" toward higher values of entropy simply because this outcome is more likely than a decrease in entropy. Planck belonged to the school that believes that some (maybe all) processes are inherently irreversible, possibly due to an underlying asymmetry.
The original work was originally written in German, but is presented here in an excellent English translation. I highly recommend this little gem to lovers of physics. Five stars.
This little book can easily be read in a single sitting. In it, Planck describes a very profound principle in a clear and simple manner: Entropy underlies every physical process, and it is in fact the most fundamental thing in nature, even more so than energy. Planck describes the derivation of Boltzmann's constant, k, which Boltzmann didn't introduce, and Planck's constant, h, the quantum of action. The fact that this constant can be interpreted both in terms of action (energy x time) and angular momentum is significant, because the angular momentum of all spinning objects is an integer multiple of h.
Planck mentions there were two opposing interpretations of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Boltzmann belonged to the school that believes that all processes are reversible but systems "tend" toward higher values of entropy simply because this outcome is more likely than a decrease in entropy. Planck belonged to the school that believes that some (maybe all) processes are inherently irreversible, possibly due to an underlying asymmetry.
The original work was originally written in German, but is presented here in an excellent English translation. I highly recommend this little gem to lovers of physics. Five stars.
July 20, 2022
I wanted to read The Origin and Development of the Quantum Theory because I wanted to better understand quantum theory, which I can’t say that I understand at all. But I was sort of afraid the book would be too far over my head, long, and difficult to read.
I have to say that this book is not long, and it is not very difficult to read. But I still don’t understand much about quantum theory.
The section on quantum theory is basically an essay by Planck describing how he came to work it out. This was done before 1920, and other people have done a lot with it since. The quantum theory as he explains it is a set of mathematical ideas. That is why I don’t understand it any better now than I did before reading the book.
To make this essay big enough to make a book out of it, they added a short prologue by, I assume, a scientific contemporary or science writer (not somebody I recognize), a short autobiography of Planck that is about the same size as the essay on the quantum theory, and a speech made by Albert Einstein for Planck’s 60th birthday. Even with all that, it was a pretty short book. It was as enlightening on the subject of scientific debate as on the quantum theory – maybe more so.
I have to say that this book is not long, and it is not very difficult to read. But I still don’t understand much about quantum theory.
The section on quantum theory is basically an essay by Planck describing how he came to work it out. This was done before 1920, and other people have done a lot with it since. The quantum theory as he explains it is a set of mathematical ideas. That is why I don’t understand it any better now than I did before reading the book.
To make this essay big enough to make a book out of it, they added a short prologue by, I assume, a scientific contemporary or science writer (not somebody I recognize), a short autobiography of Planck that is about the same size as the essay on the quantum theory, and a speech made by Albert Einstein for Planck’s 60th birthday. Even with all that, it was a pretty short book. It was as enlightening on the subject of scientific debate as on the quantum theory – maybe more so.
May 26, 2019
The title is heady and the author is a giant of physics, so it must be a hard read, right? No! Planck wrote this title for informed readers who nevertheless have not pursued a Ph.D. in physics or any other discipline. Quantum theory, together with Relativity, are the foundations of modern physics. If you are interested in science, this is an essential read.
January 5, 2019
A short autobiography of Max Planck, or more precisely, a modest outline of his scientific achievements and some stories of his rivalry with other physicists of the time. What a time it was.
January 18, 2019
A nice first hand account
Easy to read account by Mac Plank of his accomplishments and the birth of quantum theory. It is brief, covering the essentials.
Easy to read account by Mac Plank of his accomplishments and the birth of quantum theory. It is brief, covering the essentials.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews