Wilhelm Westphal
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Heinrich Westphal (3 March 1882 in Hamburg
– 5 June 1978 in Berlin
) was a German
physicist. From 1918, he was a professor at the University of Berlin. During the period 1922 to 1924, he was also an expert adviser to the Prussian Ministry of Science, Arts and Culture. From 1928, he was simultaneously a professor at the University of Berlin and the Technical University of Berlin. His position at the former ended when it fell in the Russian sector at the close of World War II, but he achieved emeritus status at the latter in 1955.
. From 1902 to 1908, he studied at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, the Universität Stuttgart
, and the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität (FWU), now the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
. He received his doctorate in 1908, at the University of Berlin, under Arthur Wehnelt with a thesis was on measurements of potential in Wehnelt cylinders
.
at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität (FWU), where he researched thermal radiation and electric discharges in gases. During his time there, Westphal completed his Habilitation
(1913) and became a Privatdozent
.
His academic career was interrupted from 1914 to 1918 by military service in World War I
. Westphal became a titular professor after returning to FWU in 1918, where he was appointmented ausserordentlicher Professor (extraordinarius professor). From 1922 to 1924, he was also an expert adviser to the Preußisches Kultusministerium (PrKM, Prussian Culture Ministry, officially the Preußisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Kunst und Volksbildung).
From 1925 to 1926, he was a physics teacher at the Landschulheim in Salem. From 1928, he was head of the physics demonstrator, alternately called the student laboratory. In 1928, Westphal and Gustav Hertz together replaced Ferdinand Kurlbaum
at the Technische Hochschule Berlin (THB), now the Technische Universität Berlin
). Westphal, however, still retained his position at the FWU. From 1934, he was simultaneously an ausserordentlicher Professor at the THB and the FWU.
From 1935, at the THB, he was substitute head of the physics department, which Hertz had been forced to vacate due to his Jewish background. His position at the FWU came to an end in 1945 at the close of World War II
because it was then in the Russian sector of the city. In 1955, Westphal achieved emeritus status as ausserordentlicher Professor of physics at the Technische Universität Berlin
.
In addition to being a successful researcher, Westphal was a prolific textbook author. He was also the editor of Volumes 12 through 17 of the Handbuch der Physik, of the encyclopedia Physikalisches Wörterbuch, and of the series Die Wissenschaft.
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
– 5 June 1978 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physicist. From 1918, he was a professor at the University of Berlin. During the period 1922 to 1924, he was also an expert adviser to the Prussian Ministry of Science, Arts and Culture. From 1928, he was simultaneously a professor at the University of Berlin and the Technical University of Berlin. His position at the former ended when it fell in the Russian sector at the close of World War II, but he achieved emeritus status at the latter in 1955.
Education
Westphal was educated at the Gelehrtenschule des JohanneumsGelehrtenschule des Johanneums
The Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums is a Gymnasium in Hamburg, Germany. It is Hamburg's oldest school and was founded in 1529 by Johannes Bugenhagen. The school's motto is The Future needs a Heritage...
. From 1902 to 1908, he studied at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, the Universität Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
, and the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität (FWU), now the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
. He received his doctorate in 1908, at the University of Berlin, under Arthur Wehnelt with a thesis was on measurements of potential in Wehnelt cylinders
Wehnelt cylinder
A Wehnelt cylinder is an electrode in the electron gun assembly of some thermionic devices, used for focusing and control of the electron beam. It is named after Arthur Rudolph Berthold Wehnelt, a German physicist, who invented it during the years 1902 and 1903. A Wehnelt cylinder is also known as...
.
Career
After receipt of his doctorate, Westphal became an assistant to Heinrich RubensHeinrich Rubens
Heinrich Rubens was a German physicist.He played a direct role in the genesis of the quantum theory, providing the experimental results that pushed Max Planck to provide the first quantum hypothesis.He also combined scientific ideas to create the Rubens' tube.-External links:*...
at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität (FWU), where he researched thermal radiation and electric discharges in gases. During his time there, Westphal completed his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
(1913) and became a Privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
.
His academic career was interrupted from 1914 to 1918 by military service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Westphal became a titular professor after returning to FWU in 1918, where he was appointmented ausserordentlicher Professor (extraordinarius professor). From 1922 to 1924, he was also an expert adviser to the Preußisches Kultusministerium (PrKM, Prussian Culture Ministry, officially the Preußisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Kunst und Volksbildung).
From 1925 to 1926, he was a physics teacher at the Landschulheim in Salem. From 1928, he was head of the physics demonstrator, alternately called the student laboratory. In 1928, Westphal and Gustav Hertz together replaced Ferdinand Kurlbaum
Ferdinand Kurlbaum
Ferdinand Kurlbaum was a German physicist.He was a son of a judicial officer. Until 23 he made his Abitur. He studied mathematics and physics in Heidelberg and Berlin from Hermann Helmholtz....
at the Technische Hochschule Berlin (THB), now the Technische Universität Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
). Westphal, however, still retained his position at the FWU. From 1934, he was simultaneously an ausserordentlicher Professor at the THB and the FWU.
From 1935, at the THB, he was substitute head of the physics department, which Hertz had been forced to vacate due to his Jewish background. His position at the FWU came to an end in 1945 at the close of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
because it was then in the Russian sector of the city. In 1955, Westphal achieved emeritus status as ausserordentlicher Professor of physics at the Technische Universität Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
.
In addition to being a successful researcher, Westphal was a prolific textbook author. He was also the editor of Volumes 12 through 17 of the Handbuch der Physik, of the encyclopedia Physikalisches Wörterbuch, and of the series Die Wissenschaft.
Books by Westphal
- Wilhelm Westphal Physik - Ein Lehrbuch (Springer, 1928, 1937, 1944, 1947, 1953, 1956, 1969). This book was in at least 26 editions.
- Wilhelm Westphal Physikalisches Praktikum (Vieweg, 1938, 1943, 1966)
- Wilhelm Westphal Physik des alltäglichen Lebens (Societäts-Verlag, 1940)
- Wilhelm H. Westphal Atomenergie (West-Kulturverl., 1948)
- Wilhelm Westphal Die Relativitäts - Theorie (Kosmos Verlag, 1955)
- Wilhelm Westphal Die Relativitätstheorie. Ihre Grundtatsachen und ihre Bewährung als Wegweiser der Forschung. Kosmos Band 205 (Franckh'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1955)
- Wilhelm Westphal Deine tägliche Physik (Ullstein, 1957, 1977, 1978)
- Wilhelm Westphal Kleines Lehrbuch der Physik: Ohne Andwendung höherer Mathematik (Springer, 1948, 1961, 1963, 1967). This book was favorably reviewed in the U.S.
- Wilhelm Westphal A Short Textbook of Physics (Springer, 1968); translated from the 6th to 8th German editions. This book was reviewed favorably in the U.S.
- Wilhelm Westphal Physics For You and Me (Harrap, 1962)
- Wilhelm H. Westphal Physics can be fun (Hawthorn, 1962)
- Wilhelm Westphal Die Grundlagen des physikalischen Begriffssystems (Vieweg, 1965)
- Wilhelm Westphal, editor Die Wissenschaft / Einzeldarstellungen aus der Naturwissenschaft und der Technik Band 88 / Pascual Jordan die Physik des 20. Jahrhunderts (Vieweg)
Selected literature by Westphal
- Wilhelm Westphal Probleme der Physik, Das Reich Number 41, 9-10 (10 October 1943)
- Wilhelm Westphal Physik begründet die Technik, Das Reich Number 6, 5-6, (6 February 1945)
- Wilhelm Westphal Das Physikalische Institut der Technische Universität Berlin, Physikalische BlätterPhysikalische BlätterThe Physikalische Blätter was an official journal of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.-History:The Physikalische Blätter was founded in 1943 by Ernst Brüche, who was also the editor from 1944 to 1972. At the start, it was issued by the Informationsstelle Deutscher Physiker...
Volume 11, 554-558 (1955)
- Wilhelm Westphal James Franck †, Physikalische Blätter Volume 20, 324-328 (1964)
- Wilhelm Westphal 68 Jahre als Physiker in Berlin, Physikalische Blätter Volume 28, 258-265 (1972)