Niels Bohr, John Dalton, And Earnest Rutherford

As scientists started researching atoms, many had different ideas on what was actually going on inside the atoms and what the atoms looked like. A few of these scientists were Niels Bohr, J.J. Thompson, John Dalton, and Earnest Rutherford. These four men defined what atomic theory was with all the research and experiments they did. They each came up with ideas about atoms. John Dalton: John Dalton was born September 6, 1766. Dalton’s father worked as a weaver, his father owned a small plot of land and a small house, Dalton’s parents were both Quakers. John grew up in the Victorian times in England, as a child Dalton was very intelligent noticing fine details and gathering information very well. He attended a small village school until the …show more content…
Dalton used the Greek word “atomos” or “atoms” to label the particles. Dalton believed that atoms of different elements could be distinguished based on their varying atomic weights, While doing this, he became the first scientist to explain the behavior of atoms using the measurement of weight. Dalton also the first scientist to discover that atoms could not be created or destroyed. J.J. Thompson: J.J. Thompson was born December 18, 1856. J.J.’s father was a book seller who planned on J.J. being an engineer. J.J. attended Owens college and received a minor Scholarship to attend Trinity college at Cambridge and study mathematics. After graduation J.J. worked in the Cavendish laboratory. He quickly earned a membership in the prestigious royal society and became the professor of physics at the age of 28. He was respected and students came from around the world to study with …show more content…
Rutherford was the fourth of 12 children, and the second son. His father had little education and struggled to support the large family. His mother worked as a school teacher, she believed knowledge is power and put a strong emphasis on her children's education. Ernest spent most of his time milking cows and doing other chores on the farm. Rutherford was given his first science book at the age of ten and it inspired his first experiment. He constructed a miniature cannon, which exploded. Rutherford was very smart and loved school. In 1887 he was awarded a scholarship to Nelson Collegiate School, a private secondary school. In 1890, Rutherford received another scholarship, this time to Canterbury College in Christchurch, New Zealand. While Rutherford was attending Canterbury, his professor encouraged Rutherford to find concrete proof through scientific experiments. Rutherford managed to achieve first class honors in math and science. Rutherford conducted independent research on high frequency electrical discharges ability to discharge a magnet. After earning a Bachelors degree in science, he fell in love with his landlady’s daughter, Mary Newton. They were married in 1900, and had a daughter 1 year later named