Hans Christian Oersted (sometimes spelled as Ørsted), was a Danish physicist and chemist who lived from August 14, 1777 – March 9, 1851. He is well known for discovering that an electric current can create a magnetic field.
Oersted was born in Rudkøbing. His interest in the field of science was developed while he worked in his father’s pharmacy. Although he only received his education at home, he excelled academically when he went to the University of Copenhagen with his brother, Anders Sandøe Ørsted. During his stay at the university, he was awarded for his works in physics and aesthetics.
Thanks to a scholarship grant, Oersted was able to travel for three years across Europe. When he was in Germany, he got to know physicist Johann Wilhelm Ritter who believed in the connection between electric currents and magnets. This idea made sense to Oersted because his dissertation, “The Architectonics of Natural Metaphysics,” was based on the works of Immanuel Kant. Kant believed in the unity of nature and the relationships between natural phenomena.
The meeting between Oersted and Ritter sparked the former’s interest in pursuing the study of physics even further. He continued his research on electric currents and acoustics while he was a professor at the University of Copenhagen back in 1806. His works prompted the University to develop a comprehensive program for the study of physics and chemistry – including the development of new laboratories.
After Alessandro Volta’s discovery of the galvanic battery, Oersted began experimenting on electricity. He first mentioned the connection between electricity and magnetism in an essay written in Berlin. In 1820, Oersted was conducting a lecture when he noticed how a magnetized compass needle reacted when an electric current was turned on or off. This confirmed his theory that there is a direct relationship between magnetism and electricity. After three months, he started to investigate further and he discovered that while an electric current flows through a wire, a circular magnetic field is produced.
After Oersted published his findings, they created a ripple effect on electrodynamics research. His accomplishments allowed the scientific community to take a major step towards a more cohesive concept of energy.
Several other scientists were able to move forward with their own research. For instance, Oersted’s research influenced French physicist André-Marie Ampère in developing the single math formula that represents the magnetic forces between conductors carrying electric current.
With all of his accomplishments, Hans Christian Oersted was honored when the unit of magnetic field strength in CGS was named after him. One oersted is equal to the field strength one centimeter away from a magnetic pole when in vacuum conditions.
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