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Hans Christian Oersted

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Scientist

The Resume

    (August 14, 1777-March 9, 1851)
    Born in Rudkoebing, Denmark
    Physicist and chemist
    Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Copenhagen
    Observed that a compass needle was deflected when an electric current flowed through a wire (April 21, 1820)
    Concluded that electric currents generate magnetic fields
    Also determined: the strength of the magnetic field is proportional to the strength of the electric current; the magnetic field strength is inversely proportional to distance from the wire; the magnetic field reverses polarity if the current reverses direction
    First scientist to isolate the element aluminum (1825)

Why he might be annoying:

    He noted that none of the other witnesses to the compass needle being deflected were impressed by it.
    He left the work of determining the mathematical relation between electricity and magnetism to other scientists, such as Andre-Marie Ampere and James Clerk Maxwell.
    An Italian scientist, GIan Domenico Romagnosi, had made the same observation over a decade earlier (1802), but had been unable to get the discovery written up in a scientific journal.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He laid the foundations for the science of electromagnetism.
    He was fluent in French and German in addition to his native Danish.
    He encouraged the literary efforts of Hans Christian Andersen.
    He coined the phrase 'thought experiment' (1812).
    He received a state funeral.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying