Nobel Prize in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for outstanding contributions to the field of Physics.
It was established by the 1895 will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor, and first awarded in 1901.
The award recognizes breakthroughs in fundamental science, quantum mechanics, cosmology, condensed matter, and applied physics.
Nobel Prize in Physics – Key Facts
- First awarded: 1901 (to Wilhelm Röntgen for discovery of X-rays)
- Awarded by: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Prize components: Medal, Diploma, and cash award (~11 million SEK)
- Given to max 3 persons per year
📝 Expected MCQ: Who awards the Nobel Prize in Physics? → Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
📝 Expected MCQ: Who was the first Nobel Laureate in Physics? → Wilhelm Röntgen
Notable Indian Winners and Contributions
1. C.V. Raman (1930)
- First Indian to win Nobel in Physics
- For the discovery of Raman Effect (scattering of light)
- Celebrated as National Science Day (28 Feb)
📝 PYQ (BPSC): Raman Effect is related to? → Scattering of light
2. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1983)
- Indian-American astrophysicist
- For his theory on the structure and evolution of stars
- Chandrasekhar limit: maximum mass of a white dwarf
3. Other Indian-Origin Scientists
- Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (2009, Chemistry) → Born in India, shared for ribosome studies
- Abdus Salam (1979, from Pakistan) → Work in electroweak theory (Nobel in Physics)
Recent Nobel Prizes in Physics
2023
- Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, Anne L’Huillier
- For attosecond pulses of light used to study electron dynamics
2022
- Alain Aspect, John Clauser, Anton Zeilinger
- For work on quantum entanglement and Bell’s inequalities
2021
- Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann, Giorgio Parisi
- For work on climate models and complex systems
📝 Expected MCQ: Who won Nobel in 1930 for light scattering? → C.V. Raman
📝 Expected MCQ: Attosecond light pulse studies won Nobel in which year? → 2023
Bihar Relevance & Applications
- C.V. Raman's work is taught in Bihar's school and college curriculum
- Several toppers in BPSC, JEE, NEET from Bihar are inspired by Nobel research
- Bihar’s planetarium in Patna displays Nobel physics models
- Quantum tech, climate physics, and solar energy (awarded topics) are now applied in:
- BREDA’s solar programs
- Disaster forecasting via satellite physics
PYQs + Expected MCQs
📝 PYQ (BPSC): Raman Effect is related to? → Scattering of light
📝 PYQ (BPSC Teacher): Nobel Prize in Physics 1930 was awarded to? → C.V. Raman
📝 Expected MCQ: In which year was the Nobel Prize first awarded? → 1901
📝 Expected MCQ: Who discovered X-rays and won the first Nobel in Physics? → Wilhelm Röntgen
📝 Expected MCQ: Chandrasekhar limit relates to? → White dwarf stars
📝 Expected MCQ: Which Nobel-winning discovery led to quantum entanglement? → Bell’s inequalities (2022)
Quick Revision Points
- Nobel Prize in Physics: Started in 1901, by Alfred Nobel
- Awarded by Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- First winner: Röntgen for X-rays
- Indian Nobel Laureates:
- C.V. Raman (1930) – Raman Effect
- Chandrasekhar (1983) – Stellar evolution
- Recent Awards:
- 2023: Attosecond light pulses
- 2022: Quantum entanglement
- 2021: Climate & complex systems
- Bihar Link: Raman taught in textbooks, applied solar & satellite physics
Sources Used
- NCERT Science Class 10–12
- Lucent GK – Physics & Awards section
- NobelPrize.org (official)
- Ghatna Chakra – BPSC PYQs
- EduTeria – Science & Awards PDFs
- Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC)