You cannot always choose who comes into your life but you can learn what lesson they teach.
Sir CV Raman was an important physicist from India. He became famous for his work in physics, the science that explains things like light and sound. In 1930, he achieved a great honour by winning the Nobel Prize in Physics. This made him the first Asian to win such a prestigious award in science.
Raman was always curious about the world, especially nature. His most famous discovery was how light behaves when it passes through different materials. This discovery is known as "Raman Scattering" and is a major contribution to physics. His work was not just about winning awards. He was passionate about learning and exploring new ideas. His life shows us the value of hard work and dedication in science.
Today, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman is remembered as a brilliant scientist who made significant contributions to our understanding of light. His work continues to inspire those interested in the mysteries of science and the natural world.
CV Raman Biography
Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was born in Tiruchirappalli, Southern India on November 7th, 1888. His father was a mathematics and physics lecturer, so he grew up in an academic environment. He enrolled in Presidency College, Madras in 1902, and in 1904 he passed his B.A. examination with the highest marks and received a gold medal in physics. In 1907, he earned his M.A. degree with top honors. During his time as a student, he conducted his early research in optics and acoustics, which became the focus of his entire career.
In 1917, he received an offer to occupy the newly established Palit Chair of Physics at Calcutta University, which he ultimately chose to take. Following a 15-year tenure at Calcutta, he assumed the role of Professor at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore from 1933 to 1948. Since 1948, he has served as the Director of the Raman Institute of Research in Bangalore, an institution that he established and funded himself. Additionally, he was the founder and currently serves as the Editor of the Indian Journal of Physics, which was established in 1926.
Raman received numerous honorary doctorates and was a member of various scientific societies. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1924 and was knighted in 1929.
CV Raman won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his discovery of the Raman effect, while Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his literary works.
What Did C.V. Raman Discover?
Are you wondering what is the Raman effect? Sir CV Raman's most famous contribution to physics, known as Raman Scattering, marked a turning point in our understanding of light and its interaction with matter. It is a discovery that changed the way scientists saw the world.
The Discovery
The story of Raman Scattering began in the 1920s. Raman was fascinated by the colours of the sea and the sky and wanted to know why they looked the way they did. He started experimenting with light, passing it through various transparent materials like water and glass.
Raman observed that when light passes through a material, most of it goes straight through, but a tiny part gets scattered in different directions. Not only that, but the scattered light also changes its colour slightly. This was different from what scientists had thought before.
What is Raman Scattering?
Raman Scattering happens when light hits the molecules in a material. Each molecule vibrates in its own unique way, like a tiny spring. When light, which is made of photons, hits these vibrating molecules, it interacts with them. Most of the light keeps its original colour, but a small part of it gains or loses energy due to this interaction. This change in energy shows up as a change in the colour of the light.
This effect is very subtle but extremely important. It is like each material has its own fingerprint in the light it scatters, and Raman was the first to notice this.
Why is it Important?
The Raman Effect opened up a new way to study the properties of materials. By looking at the scattered light, scientists can understand what a material is made of and how its molecules are arranged. This has applications in many fields, from studying medicines and chemicals to exploring the mysteries of space.
Raman Scattering is a powerful tool in science because it is a non-destructive way to study materials. Scientists don't need to change or damage a sample to learn about it. They can just shine a light on it and look at the scattered light.
The Legacy
This groundbreaking discovery earned Raman the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. But more than that, it changed the course of scientific research. Raman Scattering is still used today in laboratories all over the world. It is a testament to his curiosity and his determination to understand the world around him.
When and Why was C.V. Raman awarded The Nobel Prize in Physics?
C.V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his discovery of the Raman effect, which is the inelastic scattering of light by molecules.
The Raman effect is significant in scientific research because it provides valuable information about the vibrational and rotational modes of molecules. This effect allows scientists to study the structure, bonding, and interactions of molecules, making it a powerful tool in various fields such as chemistry, physics, biology, and material science.
National Science Day
National Science Day is a significant occasion celebrated in India every year on February 28th. It is not just a day on the calendar; it is a celebration of the spirit of science and innovation. This day honours the discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Sir CV Raman on February 28, 1928, a milestone in scientific history.
The Historical Significance of February 28th
The choice of February 28th as National Science Day is deeply rooted in a pivotal moment in scientific history. On this day in 1928, Dr. C.V. Raman made an official announcement of his discovery - the Raman Effect. This discovery was a major milestone in our understanding of light and its interaction with matter. For this outstanding contribution, Dr. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, bringing international acclaim not only to himself but also to India.
The inception of National Science Day
Recognising the importance of this discovery and its impact on the scientific community, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) proposed to celebrate February 28th as National Science Day. This proposal aimed to honour his achievement and to foster a scientific temperament among the people of India. In response, the Government of India embraced this idea, leading to the first-ever celebration of National Science Day on February 28th, 1987.
Celebrating Science and Its Wonders
National Science Day goes beyond commemorating an individual achievement; it is a day dedicated to celebrating science and its wonders. It is an opportunity to inspire and educate the masses about the role of science in everyday life and its potential to address various challenges facing humanity. The day encourages young minds to explore the world of science and nurtures the spirit of inquiry and innovation.
Achievements of CV Raman
Born in 1888, Raman's passion for science led him to make significant contributions to the field of physics. Source: gmsciencein.com
Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was a famous Indian physicist known for his amazing work in the science of light. Starting from his student days to his big discovery, the Raman Effect, he did many important things in science. The table below shows the main highlights and achievements of CV Raman.
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | Graduated in Physics | Completed his Master's degree in Physics at Presidency College, Madras, with top honours, showcasing his early brilliance in the field. |
| 1917 | Professorship at Calcutta University | Appointed as the Palit Professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta, marking the start of his significant academic career in physics. |
| 1921 | International Exposure | Attended major scientific conferences in London, gaining international exposure and insights into contemporary scientific research. |
| 1924 | Fellowship of the Royal Society | Elected as a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society, London, recognising his contributions to science at an international level. |
| 1928 | Discovery of the Raman Effect | Discovered the Raman Effect on February 28th, a fundamental finding in light scattering, which demonstrated that light quanta exchange energy with matter. |
| 1930 | Nobel Prize in Physics | Awarded the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work on the scattering of light, making him the first Asian to win a Nobel Prize in a scientific field. |
| 1934 | Founding the Indian Academy of Sciences | Established the Indian Academy of Sciences, fostering scientific research in India and starting its journal for disseminating scientific knowledge. |
| 1941 | Knighted by the British Empire | Received the title of 'Knight Bachelor' from the British government, recognising his distinguished service in the field of science. |
| 1943 | Establishment of Raman Research Institute | Founded the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore, dedicated to continued research in various fields of physics, which became his primary focus post-retirement. |
| 1954 | Bharat Ratna Award | Honoured with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, acknowledging his immense contributions to science in India and globally. |
| 1970 | His Demise | Passed away on November 21, leaving behind a legacy of scientific excellence and inspiration for future generations of scientists. |
Famous Quotes of CV Raman
Inspirational saying of CV Raman
- It will soon be 25 years from the date of publication of my first research work. That the scientific aspirations kindled by that early work did not suffer extinction has been due entirely to the opportunities provided for me by the great city of Calcutta.
- Towards the end of February 1928, I took the decision to use brilliant monochromatic illumination obtained with the aid of commercially available mercury arcs sealed in quartz tubes.
- All the instruments of percussion known to European science are essentially nonmusical and can only be tolerated in open-air music or in large orchestras where a little noise more or less makes no difference.
- I would like to tell the young men and women before me not to lose hope and courage. Success can only come to you by courageous devotion to the task lying in front of you.
- It is generally believed that it is the students who derive benefit by working under the guidance of a professor. In reality, the professor benefits equally from his association with gifted students working under him.
- The fundamental importance of the subject of molecular diffraction came first to be recognised through the theoretical work of the late Lord Rayleigh on the blue light of the sky, which he showed to be the result of the scattering of sunlight by the gases of the atmosphere.
- To an observer situated on the moon or on one of the planets, the most noticeable feature on the surface of our globe would no doubt be the large areas covered by oceanic water. The sunlit face of the earth would appear to shine by the light diffused back into space from the land and water-covered areas.
- I have a feeling that if the women of India take to science, they will achieve what even men have failed to do. Women have one quality – the quality of devotion. It is one of the most important passports to success in science. Let us not imagine that intellect is the sole prerogative of males, in science.
- I think what is needed in India today is the destruction of that defeatist spirit.
- I am the master of my failure, if I never fail how will I ever learn.
Quotes of CV Raman
- It is not often that the idealism of student days finds adequate opportunity for expression in the later life of manhood.
- It was poverty and the poor laboratories that gave me the determination to do the very best I could.
- Ask the right questions and nature will open the door to her secrets.
- Success can come to you by courageous devotion to the task lying in front of you.
- We need a spirit of victory, a spirit that will carry us to our rightful place under the sun, a spirit which will recognise that we, as inheritors of a proud civilisation, are entitled to a rightful place on this planet.
- The real growth of a country was in the hearth, minds, bodies, and souls of young men and women of the country.
- If someone judges you, they are wasting space in their mind. The best part, it is their problem.
- The essence of the scientific spirit is to realise what a wonderful world it is that we live in.
- The whole edifice of modern physics is built upon the fundamental hypothesis of the atomic or molecular constitution of matter.
- In the history of science, we often find that the study of some natural phenomenon has been the starting point in the development of a new branch of knowledge.
- The true wealth of a nation consists not in the stored-up gold but in the intellectual and physical strength of its people.
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