Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736–1806) was a French physicist and engineer known for his foundational contributions to the fields of electromagnetism and electrostatics. Here is a detailed biography of Charles-Augustin de Coulomb, highlighting key events in his life:
Early Life and Education:
- June 14, 1736: Charles-Augustin de Coulomb was born in Angoulême, France, into a noble family.
- Military Education: Coulomb received a military education at the Royal Engineer School in Mézières, where he studied mathematics and engineering.
Military Service:
- Artillery Officer: Coulomb joined the French army as an artillery officer and served in various locations, including Martinique, where he contributed to the fortifications.
- Fortifications and Engineering: His military service provided him with practical experience in fortifications and engineering, laying the groundwork for his later scientific work.
Scientific Contributions:
- Publication of Scientific Papers: Coulomb began publishing scientific papers on various topics, including mechanics, applied mathematics, and electricity.
- Laws of Friction: Coulomb conducted experiments on friction and formulated Coulomb’s laws of friction, which describe the relationship between the force of friction and the normal force between two objects.
- Electricity and Magnetism: Coulomb’s most significant contributions were in the fields of electricity and magnetism. He developed Coulomb’s law, which describes the force between charged particles.
Coulomb’s Law:
- Publication of Coulomb’s Law (1785): In 1785, Coulomb published his groundbreaking work on the law of electrostatic force between charged particles. This law quantifies the force between two charged objects and laid the foundation for the mathematical description of electrostatics.
- Torsion Balance Experiment: Coulomb’s experiments on the torsion balance, a device he invented, played a crucial role in determining the quantitative relationship between electric charge, distance, and force.
Later Life and Recognition:
- Retirement: Coulomb retired from military service in 1787 with the rank of Captain.
- Academic Recognition: In 1802, Coulomb was appointed as inspector general of public instruction in France.
- Death: Charles-Augustin de Coulomb passed away on August 23, 1806, in Paris, France.
Legacy:
- Coulomb (Unit of Charge): The unit of electric charge, the coulomb, is named in honor of Charles-Augustin de Coulomb.
- Recognition of Contributions: Coulomb’s work laid the foundation for the mathematical treatment of electricity and magnetism, influencing subsequent developments in the field.
- Impact on Electromagnetism: Coulomb’s laws are integral to understanding the forces and interactions in the field of electromagnetism, forming the basis for further research by scientists like André-Marie Ampère and Michael Faraday.
Charles-Augustin de Coulomb’s contributions to physics, especially in the field of electromagnetism, significantly influenced the development of the scientific understanding of electricity and magnetism. His laws and discoveries remain fundamental in the study of these phenomena.
