The first American physi-

cist; characterized two kinds

of electric charge, which he

named ``positive'' and

``negative''.

Developed hypothesis that

all gases at same volume,

pressure, and temperature

contain same number of

atoms.

Discovered that pressure

applied to an enclosed fluid

is transmitted undiminished

to every part of the fluid and

to the walls of its container

(Pascal's principle).

Greek mathematician, physi-

cist, engineer, inventor, and

astronomer. Although few de-

tails of his life are known, he is

regarded as one of the leading

scientists in classical antiquity.

Studied conditions that oc-

cur when an object moves

through a fluid at high

speed. Proposed ``Mach's

principle,'' which states that the inertia of an object is

due to the interaction between the object and the rest

of the universe .

Pioneer in study of electrici-

ty; invented the first electric

battery.

Co-discovered that intensity

of magnetic field set up by a

current flowing through a

wire varies inversely with the

distance from the wire.

Made the first terrestrial meas-

urement of the speed of light;

invented one of the first inter-

ferometers; took the first pictures of the Sun on da-

guerreotypes.

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Developed the fundamental

relationship of fluid flow

now known as Bernoulli's

principle.

Discovered that current flow

is proportional to potential

difference and inversely

proportional to resistance

(Ohm's law).

Performed fundamental ob-

servations, experiments, and

mathematical analyses in as-

tronomy and physics; discov-

ered mountains and craters on

the moon, and other planets.

Proposed a simple geometrical

wave theory of light, now

known as ``Huygen's princi-

ple''; pioneered use of the pen-

dulum in clocks.

Invented the modern condens-

ing steam engine and a centrif-

ugal governor.

Developed first law of ther-

modynamics, a statement of

conservation of energy

Hypothesized foreshortening

of moving bodies (Lorentz-

FitzGerald contraction) to

explain the result of the Mi-

chelson-Morley experiment.

Developed theories of gravita-

tion and mechanics, and in-

vented differential calculus.

Best known for his Three

Laws of Motion.

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Established the differen-

tial equation governing

heat diffusion and solved

it by devising an infinite

series of sine and cosines capable of ap-

proximating a wide variety of functions .

Liquified nitrogen and

invented the Dewar flask,

which is critical for low-

temperature work.

Propounded the theory of

electromagnetism; devel-

oped the kinetic theory of

gases

Developed empirical for-

mula to describe hydrogen

spectrum

Contributed to the fields of

hydraulics and hydrodynam-

ics; developed mathematical

framework for turbulence and

introduced the ``Reynolds

number,'' which provides a criterion for dynamic

similarity and correct

modeling in many fluid-

flow experiments .

Contributed to the develop-

ment of electromagnetism;

introduced operational calculus

and invented the modern nota-

tion for vector calculus.

Made fundamental contribu-

tions to fluid dynamics, lunar

orbit theory (tides), and me-

chanics; also contributed pro-

lifically to all areas of classical

mathematics.

English physicist who discov-

ered the law of elasticity,

known as Hooke's law, and

who did research in a remarka-

ble variety of fields.

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Studied light and color;

known for his double-slit

experiment that demon-

strated the wave nature of

light.

Developed sensitive mag-

netometers; worked in

electrodynamics and the

electrical structure of mat-

ter.

Developed the principle of

least action and the Hamil-

tonian form of classical

mechanics.

A German-born theoret-

ical physicist who de-

veloped the general the-

ory of relativity, one of

the two pillars of mod-

ern physics (alongside quantum mechanics).

While best known for his mass–energy equiv-

alence formula E = mc2 (which has been

dubbed "the world's most famous equation"),

he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics

"for his services to theoretical physics, and

especially for his discovery of the law of the

photoelectric effect". The latter was pivotal in

establishing quantum theory.

Tesla is credited with

inventing modern radio.

The Tesla coil, invented

in 1891, is still used in

radio and television sets

and other electronic

equipment. In total, Nikola Telsa was granted

more than one hundred patents and invented

countless unpatented inventions. In 1885,

George Westinghouse, head of the Westing-

house Electric Company, bought the patent

rights to Tesla's system of dynamos, trans-

formers and motors. Nikola Tesla was Thom-

as Edison's rival at the end of the 19th centu-

ry. In fact, he was more famous than Edison

throughout the 1890's.

Developed a carbon-filament

incandescent light; patented

the carbon process for print-

ing photographs in permanent

pigment.

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