120 Years of the Electron

As early as earth science in elementary school, we are exposed to atoms and electrons. To modern day people it is a part of learning the concept of life and things, but 120 years ago electrons were simply a brand new theory that helped explain a little clearer how matter existed.

Though Dutch physicist, Henrik Antoon Lorentz is attributed to the electron theory, the Dutchman’s goal was to extend James Clerk Maxwell’s equations and work that previously existed. Maxwell found the ories that showed electrical and magnetic fields existed. This work was noted in his synthesis of 1864. We know these equations as clean cut, direct formulas where you can fill in data, but his notes were a mess of symbols and words to note everything that was known about magnetism and electricity at that point in time.

While looking at Maxwell’s work Lorentz saw a number of questions arise from his findings. Lorentz wanted answers, so he took the notes and put together that molecular theory applies to electrical theory as well. Specifically, Lorentz explored the behavior between tiny bodies and specified mass and electrical charge.   He took the equations and tried to determine if one showed the description of matter on a new foundation. All these questions, theories and speculations were addressed in Lorentz’s highly noted 1892 papers. Though he never finally addressed the issues, a second physicist took his work and proved it correct.

After Lorentz explored these possibilities, Joseph John Thomson (News - Alert) used his work to prove that electrons do exist in 1897. Today physicists still use Lorentz’s discoveries to prove that other tiny bodies, including protons and neutrons, also exist. Without Lorentz’s work, Quantum (News - Alert) Physics would not exist today, and we would not understand things such as inertia and electromagnetic back-reactions.