Karman meaning

Von karman irvine
Karman line
Theodore von kármán caltech

•

Dr. Theodore von Kármán (1881-1963)

Theodore von Kármán was arguably one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century. He was born on May 11, 1881 in Budapest, Hungary, and at an early age showed an aptitude for math and science. In 1908, he received a Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Göttingen in Germany. In March of that year, he saw an airplane for the first time and was drawn to the physical principles of flying machines. Thus began his lifelong interest in aerodynamics.

Von Kármán worked in a variety of academic posts, was in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I, worked in private industry doing research, and built a world renowned reputation by lecturing extensively in various countries. He was invited to the United States by Robert A. Millikan to advise California Institute of Technology (Caltech) engineers on the design of a wind tunnel. After the wind tunnel was completed in 1928, von Kármán stayed on to join Caltech's newly established Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory (GALCIT). In 1930, he became Director of GALCIT. The department gained promi

•

Physics History Network

Dates

May 11, 1881 – May 7, 1963

Authorized Form of Name

Von Kármán, Theodore, 1881-1963, 1881-1963

Additional Forms of Names

Kármán, Th. v. (Theodore von), 1881-1963

Kármán, Theodor von, 1881-1963

Kármán, Theodore v. (Theodore von), 1881-1963

Kármán, Theodore von, 1881-1963

Kármán, Tódor, 1881-1963

Abstract

Theodore von Kármán was Director of the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratories at California Institute of Technology (1930-1949). Other institutional affiliations include Aachen Aeronautical Institute. His research interests included aeronautical engineering and fluid dynamics.

Important Dates

May 11, 1881Birth, Budapest (Hungary).

1902Obtained ME, Royal Technical University, Budapest (Hungary).

1903 – 1906Research Engineer, Ganz and Company.

1903 – 1906Assistant Professor, Royal Technical University, Budapest.

1908Obtained PhD, University of Göttingen, Göttingen (Germany).

1909 – 1912Privatdozent, University of Göttingen.

1912 – 1928Consultant, Junkers Airplane Works.

1912 – 1929Director, Aa

•

Quick Info

Born

11 May 1881
Budapest, Hungary

Died

7 May 1963
Aachen, Germany

Summary

Theodore von Kármán was a Hungarian born mathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist who worked in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics.

Biography

Theodore von Kármán's parents were Helen Kohn, who was from a leading Bohemian family, and Mór Kármán who was a leading professor of philosophy and education. Theodore's name in Hungarian was von Skőllőskislaki Kármán Tódor (Tódor corresponds to Theodore and in Hungarian the family name precedes the given name). Theodore was tutored at home by a former student of his father and his early education was totally dominated by his father. Partly this was due to Mór being very strict and forceful, but also to the fact that he was an educational expert who practised his ideas on his own son.

Theodore's three elder brothers realised that he was a mathematical prodigy when he was six years old, for he demonstrated a remarkable ability to perform large mental calculations. Mór, however, fearing that his son would become a fr