Max Planck
German Physicist
Biography
Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck was born on April 23, 1858 in Kiel, Schleswig(Germany) and died on October 4, 1947 in Göttingen, Germany.
Education and Contribution to Physics
Adulthood
Max Planck studied at the University at Munich in the fall of 1874. Planck made many contributions to theoretical physics, but his fame rests primarily on his role as originator of the quantum theory. This theory revolutionized our understanding of atomic and subatomic processes, just as Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity revolutionized our understanding of space and time. Together they constitute the fundamental theories of 20th-century physics. Both have forced humankind to revise some of the most cherished philosophical beliefs, and both have led to industrial and military applications that affect every aspect of modern life.