Planck, Max Karl Ernst Ludwig
Planck, plahngk, Max Karl Ernst Ludwig (1858-1947), was a German theoretical physicist who concentrated on the study of thermodynamics. He was concerned with the phenomena of absorption and emission of heat and other kinds of radiant energy. In 1900, Planck originated the quantum theory when he proposed his law of radiation. This new theory revolutionized the field of physics. In 1918, Planck was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics.