Hans Christian Ørsted Biography

Hans Christian Oersted, a Danish chemist and physicist revolutionized the concept of electromagnetism by figuring that electric currents are capable of creating magnetic fields. Born to a chemist father, Hans was surrounded by scientific apparatus which triggered his interest in science. He studied several languages as a young boy and went to University of Copenhagen and majored in science and philosophy. He had an undergraduate degree in pharmacy, and later he was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy. Hans travelled the world meeting several renowned scientists and took up a job in the University. He gave several lectures, and during the course of one of his lectures was amazed to find that a magnetic needle aligns in a perpendicular position with a current carrying wire. This revelation became his premise of the relationship between magnetism and electricity. Although Hans never attempted to explain electromagnetism through mathematical equations; it was definitely a historic breakthrough which led to several studies and researches related to electromagnetism. He made another discovery in the field of chemistry, when he discovered aluminium, distinguished it from other chemical compounds and extracted it as a unique element. His lifelong venture was to make science popular among people in general, rather enclosing it within academic and scientific communities.