John Archibald Wheeler was an American theoretical physicist who made significant contributions to the field of general relativity and quantum mechanics. He is best known for popularizing the term 'black hole' and his work on the theory of nuclear fission and wormholes.
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John Wheeler coined the term 'black hole' in 1967, fundamentally changing how these cosmic phenomena were discussed in both scientific and public circles.
He played a crucial role in developing the concept of 'geons,' hypothetical gravitational or electromagnetic waves held together by their own field energy.
Wheeler's work with Bryce DeWitt led to the formulation of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation, which attempts to reconcile general relativity with quantum mechanics.
He introduced the idea of 'quantum foam,' suggesting that spacetime has a foamy, jittery nature at extremely small scales due to quantum fluctuations.
Wheeler contributed to our understanding of nuclear fission, working alongside Niels Bohr during World War II on the Manhattan Project.
Review Questions
What significant term did John Wheeler coin in 1967?
How did John Wheeler contribute to bridging general relativity and quantum mechanics?
What is meant by John Wheeler's concept of 'quantum foam'?