Max Planck

German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

Max Planck was a German physicist who discovered energy quanta, winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918. He is known for the Planck constant, which is fundamental to quantum physics, and the Planck units. Planck was twice the president of the German scientific institution that was later renamed the Max Planck Society, which now includes 83 institutions.

Table of Contents

Family Info

Siblings

Hugo Planck

Spouses

Marie Merck

Children

Erwin Planck

Karl Planck

About the Max Planck

Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck was a German theoretical physicist whose discovery of energy quanta won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.

Planck made many substantial contributions to theoretical physics, but his fame as a physicist rests primarily on his role as the originator of quantum theory and one of the founders of modern physics, which revolutionized understanding of atomic and subatomic processes. He is known for the Planck constant, which is of foundational importance for quantum physics, and which he used to derive a set of units, today called Planck units, expressed only in terms of fundamental physical constants.

Planck was twice president of the German scientific institution Kaiser Wilhelm Society. In 1948, it was renamed the Max Planck Societyand nowadays includes 83 institutions representing a wide range of scientific directions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Max Planck was a German theoretical physicist whose discovery of energy quanta won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918. He is known as the originator of quantum theory and one of the founders of modern physics.

The Planck constant, discovered by Max Planck, is a fundamental physical constant that is of foundational importance for quantum physics. Planck used this constant to derive a set of units, called Planck units, that are expressed only in terms of fundamental physical constants.

Planck made many substantial contributions to theoretical physics, but his primary fame rests on his role as the originator of quantum theory and one of the founders of modern physics, which revolutionized the understanding of atomic and subatomic processes.

Planck was twice the president of the German scientific institution Kaiser Wilhelm Society, which was later renamed the Max Planck Society in 1948. The Max Planck Society now includes 83 institutions representing a wide range of scientific directions.

Max Planck was born on April 23, 1858, in Germany.

Max Planck passed away on October 4, 1947.

Max Planck’s discovery of energy quanta, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918, was a crucial contribution to the development of quantum theory and the foundation of modern physics.

12 Quotes by Max Planck

  1. 1.

    A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  2. 2.

    Anybody who has been seriously engaged is scientific work of any kind realizes that over the entrance to the gates of the temple of science are written the words: ‘Ye must have faith.’

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  3. 3.

    Ego is the immediate dictate of human consciousness.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  4. 4.

    An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents: What does happen is that the opponents gradually die out.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  5. 5.

    We have no right to assume that any physical laws exist, or if they have existed up until now, that they will continue to exist in a similar manner in the future.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  6. 6.

    All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force… We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent Mind. This Mind is the matrix of all matter.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  7. 7.

    A scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  8. 8.

    Whence come I and whither go I? That is the great unfathomable question, the same for every one of us. Science has no answer to it.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  9. 9.

    It is not the possession of truth, but the success which attends the seeking after it, that enriches the seeker and brings happiness to him.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  10. 10.

    Scientific discovery and scientific knowledge have been achieved only by those who have gone in pursuit of it without any practical purpose whatsoever in view.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  11. 11.

    No burden is so heavy for a man to bear as a succession of happy days.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)

  12. 12.

    Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve.

    Max Planck

    German theoretical physicist (1858-1947)