Lise Meitner (1878-1968)
"The Woman Who Left Germany with the Bomb in her Purse"
Contributions to Science
Meitner is often considered the most significant and influential female scientist of the 20th century. She discovered the Auger Effect (a process where electrons are forcefully ejected from atoms by other electrons) two years before the French scientist it is named for.
In addition, she discovered the element 91st Protactinium (Pa) with some help from her long time research partner Otto Hahn.
Although Hahn was (wrongly) awarded a Nobel Prize for his research regarding Nuclear Fission, Meitner is the person who first discovered it. She and her nephew, Otto Frisch, published a paper about Nuclear Fission five years prior to Hahn getting credit for her work.
She was so influential with her work, her discoveries were used as evidence for scientists who convinced Albert Einstein to write a letter to President Roosevelt; this letter would lead to the Manhattan Project.
Though it was discovered in 1992, long after her death, the universe's heaviest known element, Meitnerium (Mt) was named for her.
In addition, she discovered the element 91st Protactinium (Pa) with some help from her long time research partner Otto Hahn.
Although Hahn was (wrongly) awarded a Nobel Prize for his research regarding Nuclear Fission, Meitner is the person who first discovered it. She and her nephew, Otto Frisch, published a paper about Nuclear Fission five years prior to Hahn getting credit for her work.
She was so influential with her work, her discoveries were used as evidence for scientists who convinced Albert Einstein to write a letter to President Roosevelt; this letter would lead to the Manhattan Project.
Though it was discovered in 1992, long after her death, the universe's heaviest known element, Meitnerium (Mt) was named for her.
Fast Facts
Born- November 7th, 1878
Birthplace- Vienna, Austria
Education: Meitner received her Physics Doctorate from the University of Vienna in 1906. Afterwards, she studied and did experiments at the University of Berlin, then later the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry; at the latter, she headed the Physics Department.
Died- October 27th, 1968
Place of Death- Cambridge, England
Birthplace- Vienna, Austria
Education: Meitner received her Physics Doctorate from the University of Vienna in 1906. Afterwards, she studied and did experiments at the University of Berlin, then later the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry; at the latter, she headed the Physics Department.
Died- October 27th, 1968
Place of Death- Cambridge, England
Meitner's Contributions Explained
The Auger Effect
The Auger Effect takes place within the nucleus of an atom. When a fast moving electron knocks out an inner shell electron, it leaves a vacancy. From this vacancy, one of two things can happen: an upper electron drops to fill that vacancy, or energy is transferred to an outer electron. This energy transfer will eject the electron.
Protactanium
Protactanium is an exceedingly rare element. It exists only in very small quantities (only a few atoms in any one sample), but it is extremely radioactive. The mineral Torbernite contains trace amounts of this decaying element, and is thus used for a visual, as one could not reasonably photograph Protactanium.
Isolated in an ampule with another element to cushion the heat and radiation, the ampule must have 1,000,000 parts of the other element to every 1 part (or .5 micrograms) of Protactanium. Any more Protactanium than that and the ampule would immediately begin to melt from the radioactive power of the 91st element.
Isolated in an ampule with another element to cushion the heat and radiation, the ampule must have 1,000,000 parts of the other element to every 1 part (or .5 micrograms) of Protactanium. Any more Protactanium than that and the ampule would immediately begin to melt from the radioactive power of the 91st element.
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission is one of two kinds of nuclear reaction, the other being Nuclear Fusion. Nuclear Fission is the split of a heavy nucleus. This split can be caused by force of an impact, or spontaneously. In either case, Nuclear Fission releases massive amounts of energy. Officially, Otto Hahn is credited with its discovery, but in actuality Hahn stole and denounced the research of Lise Meitner in order to claim the credit himself.
Works Cited
Info:
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Bios/Meitner.shtml
http://periodictable.com/Elements/091/
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/nuclear+fission
Photos:
https://wiki.utep.edu/display/~fanwar/AES
http://www.joeruff.com/artruff/physics/Student_Pages/The_Atom/Nuclear%20Decay.htm
http://periodictable.com/Elements/091/
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Bios/Meitner.shtml
http://periodictable.com/Elements/091/
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/nuclear+fission
Photos:
https://wiki.utep.edu/display/~fanwar/AES
http://www.joeruff.com/artruff/physics/Student_Pages/The_Atom/Nuclear%20Decay.htm
http://periodictable.com/Elements/091/