1

1885: Balmer discovers that the (visible) hydrogen spectrum’s wavelength can be




expressed as:     – , where n>2.
 

1895: X-rays are discovered by Rontgen. (Pg. 985)

1897: J.J Thomson establishes that Cathode Rays are actually fast moving beams
of electrons (discovery of electrons); JJT finds specific charge (e/m) (Pg. 872);
Becquerel discovers radioactivity.

1898: J.J Thomson establishes that when light falls on metal surface, electrons are
emitted from that surface (Photoelectric Effect); the Curie couple discovers
radium.

1899: Lenard and Millikan put forth Laws of Photoelectric Emission, which suggest
that light exhibits characteristics of a particle, which goes against the Wave
Theory, which was prevalent then. (Pg. 895)

1900: Planck puts forth his concept of light (and EM radiation, in general) being
quantized and coming in packets called ‘photons’. (Pg. 896)

1901: Rontgen is awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on X-rays.

1903: The Curies are awarded the Nobel Prize for extracting radium.

1904: J.J. Thomson proposes his “plum-pudding” model of the atom (Pg. 939).

1905: Einstein explains the Photoelectric Effect on the basis of Planck’s quantum
theory. (Pg. 896) .Einstein also proposes his idea of energy-mass equivalence:
    .

1906: Rutherford observes the scattering of α-particles. (Pg. 940)

1909: Geiger and Marsden make series of measurements on the deflection of

the scattering of α-particles. (Pg. 940); Millikan establishes the value of ē (= 1.6 *
10^-19) and ascertains the quantization of charge through his oil-drop
experiment.

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1911: Rutherford comes up with an atomic model which provides an explanation

for the scattering of α-particles (Pg.940 and Pg.942). However, a few drawbacks
are present (Pg. 943).

1913: Bohr proposes his atomic theory for Hydrogen-like (i.e. with only one
electron) atoms (ions) (Pg. 943). He makes use of Planck’s quantum theory; Max
Moseley puts forth his law for X-rays:   – (Pg.988).

1915: Millikan experimentally tests Einstein’s photoelectric equation:

   
    ; finds it in accordance with the results. (Note: Is the
 
maximum Kinetic energy)

1919: Rutherford discovers proton (Pg.1032).

1920: Until now, only 3 particles are known: electron, proton, and α-particle.
Rutherford predicts existence of what we now know as the neutron, but is unable
to find it.

1921: Einstein is awarded the Nobel Prize for his explanation of the phenomenon
of Photoelectric effect.

1924: De-Broglie proposes his idea of wave-particle duality and matter waves:
 
  (Pg.928).
 

1927: Davisson and Germer perform their experiment on electron diffraction and
prove that particles exhibit wave nature when they are in motion (Pg. 929).

1930: Pauli predicts existence of what we know as neutrino.

1932: Chadwick discovers neutron:  !" # $%!& ' ()*+ # ,*; Anderson
discovers positron (anti-particle of electron). (Pg. 1033)

1934: Curie and Joliot discover Induced (or Artificial) Radioactivity. (Pg. 1036)

1935: Chadwick is awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery of neutron; Yukawa
proposes his Meson theory of Nuclear Forces (predicts existence of particle called
pi-mesons). (Pg. 1039)

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1937: mu-mesons are discovered by Anderson and Neddermeyer. (Pg. 1042)

1939: German scientists Hahn and Strassman observe what Meitner and Frisch
christen ‘Nuclear Fission”; Bethe, an American scientist, puts forth the idea of
‘Carbon-cycle’ (Pg. 1084), a six-step process which produces energy in stars. (Also
look at Proton-Proton Cycle (Pg. 1084))

1947: Pi-mesons are discovered. (Pg. 1042)

1955: Antiproton is discovered. (Pg. 1042)

1956: Neutrino is discovered. (Pg. 1042)

PS. All the dates in the above text are strictly from the point of view of the ISC
Nootan text book, ambiguous though the book might be, as are the page
references (awfully sorry for the chappies who are unfortunate enough to not lay
their hands on a Kumar-Mittal). So, just wanted to make it clear that Google and
other websites did not agree within themselves and give out one proper
answer…so I thought that we might as well follow our text!!

PPS. Also, I haven’t included ALL the significant discoveries and events of modern
physics, just the ones in our syllabus.

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