Arthur Compton

Date of Birth: September 10, 1892

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: March 15, 1962

Biography

Arthur Holly Compton was an American physicist known for his groundbreaking work in the field of quantum mechanics. Born in Wooster, Ohio, he was the youngest of four children in an academically inclined family. Compton is most famous for his discovery of the Compton effect, which demonstrated the particle nature of electromagnetic radiation. This work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1927. Compton’s research was pivotal in the development of X-ray technology and contributed to the understanding of wave-particle duality. During World War II, he played a significant role in the Manhattan Project, overseeing crucial scientific developments that led to the creation of the atomic bomb. After the war, Compton served as a professor and later as the Chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis, where he continued to influence the scientific community until his retirement.

5 Interesting Facts about Arthur Compton

1. Arthur Compton’s discovery of the Compton effect was pivotal in the acceptance of quantum mechanics.

2. He served as a physics professor at the University of Chicago and later became the Chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis.

3. Compton played a significant role in the Manhattan Project during World War II, focusing on the development of nuclear weapons.

4. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1927 for his discovery of the Compton effect.

5. Compton was known for his work on cosmic rays and contributed to understanding the upper atmosphere.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Arthur Compton

1. “The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, he’s one who asks the right questions.”

2. “Science can only ascertain what is, but not what should be, and outside of its domain value judgments of all kinds remain necessary.”

3. “If co-operation is a duty, I hold that non-co-operation also under certain conditions is equally a duty.”

4. “It is not so very important for a person to learn facts. For that he does not need a teacher. What is important is that the person learns to think in a scientific way.”

5. “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Arthur Compton’s highest net worth is not precisely documented, but as a distinguished scientist, Nobel laureate, and university chancellor, his contributions to science and academia were invaluable and his influence profound.

Children

Arthur Compton and his wife, Betty Charity McCloskey, had two sons: Arthur Alan Compton and John Joseph Compton. Both sons pursued successful careers, with Arthur Alan becoming a noted physicist like his father.