Thomas Young 1802
The Wave Surfers 2
Young devised the so called double-slit experiment which gained outstanding importance in quantum physics a hundred years later. With this experiment Young demonstrated the interference of light and established the wave nature of light, disproving Newton’s a century earlier developed theory of light as a particle flow. In the double-slit experiment Young forced the light through two narrow slits in a wall. The light fell on a screen behind. Young found that the light beams spread apart and overlapped, and, in the area of overlap, bands of bright light alternated with bands of darkness. (Den Satz habe ich aus dem Internet zusammengesucht – für mich ist er verständlicher als Dein deutscher Satz) Furthermore, he calculated the wavelength of the light. Young spoke 12 languages and took a major part in deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphics.