PHYS328 - Seminar

Biographies of 20th Century Scientists

Possible questions for the 2nd half of test 2 (Fri 4-May-01)

Format for the test:

The test on 4-May-01 will contain 6 questions. You will be required to choose 4 questions to answer. Only the 4 you choose will be graded.

The test will include at least 3 questions taken from the list below.

What became of Neils Bohr's Nobel Prize during World War II?
We have an idea why Niels Bohr was a good choice to work at the Los Alamos Lab, give brief details, but also give reasons why it wasn't possibly a good idea.
What were Millikan's contributions to the United States during World War I?
Explain why Robert Millikan took the professorship at the University of Chicago over his other offers.
As the physicist responsible for building a program at Caltech, Robert Millikan sought to end the system whereby research was controlled by one dominant individual. Explain why he thought this was necessary.
Millikan was a very famous American scientist who was widely sought after by various major institutions for his prestige and expertise. List and discuss the offers made by Cal-tech in order to recruit Millikan.
Millikan was not like most of the physicists that we studied with regards to education. Explain how his education was different and how his education helped him in his teachings?
Explain why Lev Landau was placed in prison and who rescued him.
If Lev Landau had decided to leave Russia what would he have avoided and what would Russia have lost?
Discuss Landau's tragic accident and the effect it had on his life.
Albert Einstein called Lise Meitner "the German Madame Curie". How were these these two women alike and how were they different?
Explain some of Meitner's accomplishments and the controversy that surrounded her?
Describe the term 'Bildingstråger' and how this affected the life of Hans Bethe.