William Sutherland (physicist)
William Sutherland (born August 24, 1859 in Glasgow , Scotland , † October 4, 1911 in Melbourne , Australia ) was an Australian physico-chemist.
life and work
Sutherland was born in Glasgow in 1859, but his parents immigrated to Australia in 1864. Sutherland grew up in Sydney and Melbourne. He took up a degree in natural science at the University of Melbourne , which he, after studying in London, where he took courses in physics, graduated in 1883 with a master's degree.
He applied several times unsuccessfully as a professor of chemistry and physics at several universities. It was not until 1899 that he took over the chair of physics at the University of Sydney .
Sutherland worked on the kinetic gas theory from 1885. He developed the approach that besides the gravitational attraction between the particles, other forces also acted. His work, which was of a purely theoretical nature, ultimately led to the development of the Sutherland constant . This describes the increase in the effective cross-section of molecules as a function of temperature.
Sutherland died of heart problems in October 1911 and is buried in Melbourne Cemetery. His sister was the artist Jane Sutherland , whom he helped with mobility until his death.
literature
- RW Home: Sutherland, William (1859-1911) . In: Douglas Pike (Ed.): Australian Dictionary of Biography . Volume 12. Melbourne University Press, Carlton (Victoria) 1990, ISBN 0-522-84437-5 (English).
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Sutherland, William |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Australian chemist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 24, 1859 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Glasgow |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 4, 1911 |
| Place of death | Melbourne |