The man behind ohms law

The man behind Ohm's Law

We take a look at the life and times of Georg Simon Ohm.

By Noorulain Sayed 16th Mar, 2016 | 12:43 pm

Georg Simon Ohm was born on 16 March 1789 in Germany. He was a school teacher, physicist and mathematician. He is best known throughout the world for the discovery of Ohm’s Law.

Early Life: His father Johann Wolfgang Ohm was a locksmith and mother Maria Elizabeth Beck was a tailor’s daughter. Despite the fact that both of Georg’s parents weren’t educated, his father provided him with the best education possible during those times. Young Georg was introduced to the subjects of mathematics, physics, chemistry and philosophy by his father and his love for them grew over the years. Later on Ohm’s father then sent him to Switzerland. There in September 1806 he accepted a position as a mathematics teacher in a school in Gottstadt bei Nidau.

The discovery of Ohm’s Law: Ohm began his research with the new electrochemical cell, invented by Italian scientist Alessandro Volta. Using self made equipment he found that there is a direct proportionality between the potential difference (voltage) applied across a conductor and the resultant electric current. This relationship is known as Ohm's Law. Ohm's Law was first published in the book The Galvanic Circuit Investigated Mathematically in 1827. Ironically, the now famous Ohm’s Law received a highly poor response at the time it was published. It eventually recognized by the Royal Society. They awarded Ohm with a Copley Medal in 1841.

Death: Georg Ohm passed away in Munich in 1854. He is buried in the Alter Südfriedhof.