History of physics

Last updated: 15/11/2023
Contributor: Teachit Author
Image of History of physics resource
Main Subject
Category
Physics
Inside
Includes answers
Resource type
Student activity
Working scientifically
Development of scientific thinking

A chronological timeline and summary of 14 key scientists in the history of physics, along with facts about their influence, discovery or invention.

Includes reference to the work of Galilei, Franklin, Celcius, Watt, Faraday, Newton, Ohm and Johnson.

This KS3-4 resource also includes a quick formative assessment or learning check in the form of a crossword (with answers for self- or peer assessment). This activity encourages students to engage closely with the information by skimming, scanning and re-reading to answer the relevant clues.   

Download the accompanying resources, History of biology and History of chemistry if you are teaching combined science. 

Example physicists from the timeline: 

Guglielmo Marconi

(1847–1937)

1895

Italian physicist who invented the radio (wireless telegraphy). He shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1909.

Albert Einstein

(1879–1955)

1905–1916

German-born physicist who related energy and mass (E = mc2) and proposed the theory of relativity.

Frank Whittle

(1907–1996)

1930

British physicist who investigated jet propulsion and invented the jet engine.

Katherine Johnson

(1918-2020)

1961

American physicist, mathematican and NASA employee who was very influential in the success of the first and subsequent US crewed spaceflights.

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