Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand of Helmholtz (* 31 August 1821 in potsdam; "† 8 September 1894 in Charlottenburg) was a German physiologist and physicist. As a universal scholar it was one of the most versatile scientists of his time and also realm chancellor of physics was called.

Life

Helmholtz, son of a teacher, studied medicine at the Medicinisch surgical Friedrich William institute in Berlin. Since the study at this Institut included the obligation to a following eight-year old military service, Helmholtz served starting from 1843 as an army surgeon in potsdam. 1848 it became on recommendation Alexander of Humboldts from the military service to dismiss prematurely and informed first anatomy at the citizens of Berlin academy of arts. it received a call to 1849 as a professor of the physiology and pathology after king mountain. 1855 he transferred the chair for anatomy and physiology to Bonn, 1858 the chair for physiology to Heidelberg. 1870 were appointed Helmholtz the member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences.

it went to 1871 as a professor for physics to Berlin. 1888 became Helmholtz the first president of the again-created physical-technical institute for realm in Charlottenburg. At the beginning to its scientific work Helmholtz arrived by investigations over fermentation, rot and the heat production of the organisms (which it attributed mainly to muscle work) at the formulation of the law of the conservation of energy. In its book concerning preservation Kraft (1847) he formulated the principle of conservation of energy more in detail than Julius Robert von Mayer it 1842 had done, and contributed so substantially to the acknowledgment of this first very disputed principle. By application of the principle of conservation of energy to organisms Helmholtz contradicted the vitalists, which accepted a vital strength as basic strength of the life. Later Helmholtz specified the energy theorem for chemical procedures and introduced 1881 the term of the free energy for the distinction of bound energy.

Already 1842 proved the origin of the nerve fibers from ganglion cells to Helmholtz. 1852 succeeded to it the measurement of the propagation rate of nerve excitations. Tying to these physiological research busy it itself with the physiology of hearing and seeing. It developed a mathematical theory for the explanation of the tone quality by overtones, the resonance theory of hearing and on it based the science of the clay/tone feelings as physiological basis for the theory of the music (1863). Helmholtz help the three-color theory of seeing set up by Thomas Young to the break-through, invented 1850 the Ophthalmoskop (ophthalmoscope) for the investigation of the eye background, 1851 the Ophthalmometer for the determination of the radii of curvature of the eye cornea/callosity as well as 1857 the Telestereoskop.

With the list eddy-corrode (1858 and 1868) over the behavior and the movement of eddies to frictionless liquids supplied with to Helmholtz important bases of hydrodynamics. In investigations to electrodynamics Helmholtz looked for a compromise between the theories of Franz Ernst Neumann and James Clerk Maxwell. Mathematically prepared investigations on nature phenomena such as eddy towers, thunderstorms or glaciers made Helmholtz the founder of the scientific meteorology.

In epistemological discussions Helmholtz argued with problems of counting and measuring as well as the general validity of the principle of the smallest effect. On the basis of its optical and acoustic investigations he modified the classical perception term, rejected contrary to Immanuel Kant the existence of firm opinion forms, and considered it possible to make non-Euclidean geometry descriptive.

In the last volume its 1856-67 appeared work to manual of the physiological optics represented he, which role the unconscious conclusion for the perception plays.

Parents of Helmholtz: August Ferdinand Julius H. and Caroline Penne (1797-1854). From two marriages [26 August 1849 Olga of Velten (1827-1859) and 16. May 1861 Anna von Mohl (1834-1899)] 5 children (3 sons and 2 daughters) came out.

Helmholtz-Spule

Frequently used, simple geometry for the production of an generally accessible homogeneous magnetic field. The arrangement consists itself of two coaxially coils with equivalent number of turns, facing in the distance equal that of their radius.

If the Einzelspulen are in the same direction currentflowed through (+), receive one a large range with constant the coils against-intimately flowed through (-), receive one on the inside constant field gradients.

Helmholtz-Resonator

An acoustic resonator used for the sound analysis (oscillationable system, which begins to swing when suggestion with the natural frequency) consists of an air-filled hollow ball with Helmholtz-Resonator today versatile used, e.g. during the resonance loading in Porsche engines for the increase in output and consumption reduction.

Helmholtz differential equation

As Helmholtz equation the partial differential equation becomes

\ Delta \ varphi + k^2 \ varphi = 0

designated. \ Delta is thereby the Laplace operator.

It appears in physics, if one makes the separation of the variables e.g. with the solution of the wave equation and accepts a harmonious time dependence.

See also

• Helmholtz institute for biomedical technology - Helmholtz community - Helmholtz medal - the four phases of the creative process - sentences of Helmholtz

Related links

• '' The universal scholar with sense for practice '' (Helmholtz community)
• Wolfgang And Eckart: '' From the physical physiology to mathematical physics. '' (Hermann of Helmholtz' activity in Heidelberg between 1858 and 1871)
• Hermann of Helmholtz: The science of the clay/tone feelings as physiological basis for the theory of the music
• Article Helmholtz in the general German biography (ADB)

Articles in category "Hermann of Helmholtz"

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