HERTZ. It(•rts, IlEiNaicit 11857-94). A Ger man physicist, born at Hamburg. Ile studied at first to become a civil engineer. but forsook this profession for the study of mathematics and pure science, which lie pursued at Munich and Berlin, becoming Ilelinlioltz's assistant at the latter university in 1880. In 1883 Hertz be came privat-docent at Kicd, and two years later was called to the Polytechnic Institute at Karls ruhe as professor of physics. Ilk earlier experi ments with electro-magnetic waves were per formed (hiring his occupancy of this professo• ship, and simile for Hertz such a reputation that he was in 1889 called to the important chair of physics at Donn. previously 'wimple') by Clansins. To Hertz is due the realization and detection of the electrolitagnetb: waves which Maxwell had discovered in his theoretical consideration of the nature of electricity. Hertz found that waves produced by the spark of an electrical machine could be received by a circular loop of and was able to sl -- the refleetion,f re.rac..on. ilif•
fraction, and polarization of the waves. The first paper describing these wonderful discoveries was published in 1887 and the series continued for several years in Wirdermana's .t n. In 1891) was published Cebu. she hunyrn n Licht and i:'leetriciiiit.while his a/ salt, melte 11', rice were published in Leipzig the year after his death. English translations entitled Eli et ric War, s, by D. E. Jones, with a preface by Lord Kelvin (1893), and lliserllanrons Papers, by D.
Jones and (1. .k. Sehott, with an introduction by Philipp Lenard (1890), have been published. consult "Bingraphieal Sketeli." in Popit/ar •ei Pifer Monthly York. 1891). reprinted in Smithsonian keport (IVashington. 1894)•