C. F. Powell

C. F. Powell - Scientists, Facts and Childhood

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C. F. Powell Biography Stories 

C. F. Powell's Personal Details

Cecil Frank Powell was an English physicist who received Nobel Prize for Physics in 1950

InformationDetail
BirthdayDecember 5, 1903
Died onAugust 9, 1969
NationalityBritish
FamousScientists, Physicists
SpousesIsobel Arthur
Universities
  • University of Cambridge
  • Sidney Sussex College
  • Cambridge
Birth PlaceTonbridge
GenderMale
FatherFrank Powell
Sun SignSagittarius
Born inTonbridge
Famous asPhysicist
Died at Age65

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C. F. Powell's photo

Who is C. F. Powell?

Cecil Frank Powell was an English physicist who received Nobel Prize for Physics in 1950. He developed the photographic method of studying nuclear processes. He is also known for discovering the subatomic particle – pion (pi-meson). Coming from a family of gunsmiths, Powell had humble beginnings but that didn’t stop this young scientist from pursuing his dreams. He went on to study in some of the prestigious institutions on scholarships. The value Powell gave to learning and practical arts came from his childhood years. In his long and rewarding career, he had conducted several researches and was lauded for the same with several awards and honors.

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Childhood & Early Life

Cecil Powell was born on 5th December 1903 at Tonbridge, Kent, England. His father, Frank Powell, was a local gunsmith and practiced the family trade for years. Powell’s grandfather, George Bisacre, had connection and influences as he had established a private school in the town of Southborough.

He won a scholarship at the age of eleven in Judd School, Tonbridge. After gaining his elementary education from local school, this was a big step and the beginning. Powell later went on to win open scholarships to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.

After graduating with First Class Honors in Natural Science Tripos, Powell went on to work in the Cavendish Laboratory under C.T.R Wilson and Lord Rutherford in 1927. Here, he conducted a research on the condensation phenomena and earned a Ph.D. in Physics.

Career

His professional career began in 1928 after he completed his Post Graduation. He started working as a research assistant to A.M. Tyndall in the H.H. Wills Physical Laboratory when he moved to the University of Bristol.

He became a lecturer and reader at the University of Bristol. In the year 1936, he went to West Indies to investigate a volcanic activity as a seismologist.

In the year 1948, Powell was appointed as the Melville Wills Professor of Physics.

He was also the director of a European expedition which made high-altitude balloon fights in Sardinia (1952) and in the Po Valley (1954, 1955, and 1957).

Major Works

Cecil Powell devoted a large part of his life to the development of techniques for measuring the mobility of positive ions, in order to establish the nature of ions in common gases.

He also worked on the construction of a Cockcroft generator to accelerate fast protons and deuterons. He employed them in conjunction with a Wilson Chamber to study the neutron-proton scattering.

Later on, he began developing methods which employed specialized photographic emulsions which would later be used to record the tracks of elementary particles. In the year 1938, Powell applied this technique to study cosmic radiation, and exposed photographic plates at high-altitude. He collaborated with Giuseppe Occhialini, H. Muirhead and young Brazilian physicist César Lattes for this work and the result was achieved in the year 1946, with the discovery of Pion (Pi-meson), the antipion (π−) in 1949 and the modes of decay of kaons (K-mesons).

He was also involved in the preparations of the pioneering Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs in the year 1955. He also chaired the meetings of the Pugwash Continuing Committee often filling in for Bertrand Russell. He was a part of the committee till 1968.

Awards & Achievements

Powell became a member of the Royal society in the year 1949 and was also awarded the Hughes Medal.

He received the biggest honor of his life in the year 1950, when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.

In the year 1955, Powell became the proud member of the World Federation of Scientific Workers. His signature was added to the Russell-Einstein Manifesto which was put forward by Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein and scientist Joseph Rotbla.

Powell received the Royal Medal in the year 1961 and was also awarded the Lomonosov Gold Medal by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.

Personal Life & Legacy

He got married to Isobel Arthur in the year 1932 and they had two daughters.

The Judd School has one of its four houses named after him. The house color is green. The school also awards the Powell Physics and Mathematics Prize to the upper sixth form student every year in his honor.

European Physical Society named the Cecil F. Powell Memorial Medal in his honor.

He died on 9 August 1969 when he was out walking on the foothills of the Alps near the Valsassina region in Italy. A bench with a commemorative plaque was erected near the site where he died.

Trivia

When Powell visited West Indies to study the volcanic activity, the citizens issued a stamp with his photo in Grenada.

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C. F. Powell's awards

YearNameAward

Other

0Royal Medal (1961)
0Lomonosov Gold Medal (1967)
0Nobel Prize in Physics (1950)
0 Hughes Medal (1949)
0 Fellow of the Royal Society (1949)

C. F. Powell biography timelines

  • // 5th Dec 1903
    Cecil Powell was born on 5th December 1903 at Tonbridge, Kent, England. His father, Frank Powell, was a local gunsmith and practiced the family trade for years. Powell’s grandfather, George Bisacre, had connection and influences as he had established a private school in the town of Southborough.
  • // 1927
    After graduating with First Class Honors in Natural Science Tripos, Powell went on to work in the Cavendish Laboratory under C.T.R Wilson and Lord Rutherford in 1927. Here, he conducted a research on the condensation phenomena and earned a Ph.D. in Physics.
  • // 1928
    His professional career began in 1928 after he completed his Post Graduation. He started working as a research assistant to A.M. Tyndall in the H.H. Wills Physical Laboratory when he moved to the University of Bristol.
  • // 1932
    He got married to Isobel Arthur in the year 1932 and they had two daughters.
  • // 1936
    He became a lecturer and reader at the University of Bristol. In the year 1936, he went to West Indies to investigate a volcanic activity as a seismologist.
  • // 1948
    In the year 1948, Powell was appointed as the Melville Wills Professor of Physics.
  • // 1949
    Powell became a member of the Royal society in the year 1949 and was also awarded the Hughes Medal.
  • // 1950
    He received the biggest honor of his life in the year 1950, when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
  • // 1955 To 1968
    He was also involved in the preparations of the pioneering Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs in the year 1955. He also chaired the meetings of the Pugwash Continuing Committee often filling in for Bertrand Russell. He was a part of the committee till 1968.
  • // 1955
    In the year 1955, Powell became the proud member of the World Federation of Scientific Workers. His signature was added to the Russell-Einstein Manifesto which was put forward by Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein and scientist Joseph Rotbla.
  • // 1961
    Powell received the Royal Medal in the year 1961 and was also awarded the Lomonosov Gold Medal by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
  • // 9th Aug 1969
    He died on 9 August 1969 when he was out walking on the foothills of the Alps near the Valsassina region in Italy. A bench with a commemorative plaque was erected near the site where he died.

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C. F. Powell's FAQ

  • What is C. F. Powell birthday?

    C. F. Powell was born at 1903-12-05

  • When was C. F. Powell died?

    C. F. Powell was died at 1969-08-09

  • Where was C. F. Powell died?

    C. F. Powell was died in Valsassina

  • Which age was C. F. Powell died?

    C. F. Powell was died at age 65

  • Where is C. F. Powell's birth place?

    C. F. Powell was born in Tonbridge

  • What is C. F. Powell nationalities?

    C. F. Powell's nationalities is British

  • Who is C. F. Powell spouses?

    C. F. Powell's spouses is Isobel Arthur

  • What was C. F. Powell universities?

    C. F. Powell studied at University of Cambridge, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge

  • Who is C. F. Powell's father?

    C. F. Powell's father is Frank Powell

  • What is C. F. Powell's sun sign?

    C. F. Powell is Sagittarius

  • How famous is C. F. Powell?

    C. F. Powell is famouse as Physicist