Loránd Eötvös (27.07.1848-8.04.1919) was a Hungarian physicist and a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1883), and in 1899-1905 its president. He was born in Budapest. He studied at the universities of Budapest and Heidelberg. From 1871 — he worked at the University of Budapest (from 1872 as professor).
His research concerned molecular physics, gravitation and geophysics. In 1886 he established the dependence of molecular surface energy on temperature (the Eötvös law). He constructed (1888) the torsion balance and carried out (1889—1908) a series of experiments to test the equality of gravitational and inertial mass. The results of Eötvös's gravitational experiments showed that the equality of gravitational and inertial mass holds with high accuracy (to 5*10-9), and confirmed the principle that A. Einstein later used in creating general relativity (the principle of equivalence). He studied the distribution of masses in mountain ranges.
In 1891 he founded the mathematical and physical societies and was their first president. The University of Budapest bears Eötvös's name.
His research concerned molecular physics, gravitation and geophysics. In 1886 he established the dependence of molecular surface energy on temperature (the Eötvös law). He constructed (1888) the torsion balance and carried out (1889—1908) a series of experiments to test the equality of gravitational and inertial mass. The results of Eötvös's gravitational experiments showed that the equality of gravitational and inertial mass holds with high accuracy (to 5*10-9), and confirmed the principle that A. Einstein later used in creating general relativity (the principle of equivalence). He studied the distribution of masses in mountain ranges.
In 1891 he founded the mathematical and physical societies and was their first president. The University of Budapest bears Eötvös's name.